Lost in a State

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I.

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Holy human waters

 sexual sluice, nocturnal secretion

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Holy human waters

childbirth, menstruation

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Holy human waters, 

 teardrop, perspiration

Holy emission of blood and vomit

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 Unconsciousness

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And after, 

The slow washing of the face, arms, head and feet. 

The sweet washing of the mouth, the nose. 

The washing of the arms to the elbows and

The washing of the ears at the end.

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There’s no water in the afterlife — it’s so sterile. 

The spirit pines for return to the corporeal,

For fluidity, for any sensation of flow,

To swim in true life and

To not be so deadened, 

So dusty, so desiccated.

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II.

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Am I an

Ablution addict

Divinity devotee?

Cleanliness compulsive

Sucker for sanctity?

Consecration crack fiend

Panting for purity

Gagging for godly glory

Pulsating for piety?

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Wash me 

Bathe me

Drip it on me

I’ve made of myself 

A mess.

Dunk me

Sponge me

Sprinkle it on me

In the name of

Happiness.

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Bathe my body

Scrub my soil

Touch my temples with

     sesame oil

Achilles tendon, tender heart

Each of my most vulnerable parts.

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III.

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Holy river

Holy hands

Purify this

Mud-caked man

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Water

Curd

Honey of bee

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Rose petal

Milk

Medicinal ghee 

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Ash of red heifer

Now extinct

Smudge stick, smudge stick

Sweatlodge stink

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I am vessel, sullied, made clean

I know not what this

Glistening may glean.

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This poem became a musical collaboration with Low-Velocity Society. Listen to it here!