I LOVE IN A WAY THAT TURNS ON THE HEAVENS

the smoke from the bodies of burning boys is accusative
i fear for the day i will burn because persecution foreruns fire
it continues to consume boys committing selves solely to boys
brave ones with eyes invaded by love taste smoke
i go to my lover’s arms set in the cover of darkness
they will come for me while dressed in light to name me rebel
any boy tongue-kissing another triggers the functionality of bombs
the dark gives up our position so i fucking run into corners unknown
i flee this madness because I carry a wild heart learning different ways to love
in this city & in all its houses, hate is mayor around these parts
scripture quoting warriors tread rudely on my name
fuck, i love my body enough to divorce reason & conformity
everywhere, a boy misses his lover & fear sharpens the blade he hugs as ally
i lose my soul when i am not loving or trying to decipher the language of hate
the words i locate weakens me when placed against mob mentality
i was not taught to hold my body like a gun or twist shape to become knife
like the one i pulled out from a boy’s back the night freedom caught fire
Jesus is the heaven preachers market alongside salvation
they sell ascension for obese bank accounts while the carpenter’s son tends to barren pockets
i walk with Christ & he cries, weeping ike that chapter drawn from Lazarus’ tomb
i exchange my lover for life & they crown him with burning
i pour my heart into Christ’s own to emphasize that kindness is sexy
i observe a minute’s silence for my lover while hate speech rains down
contained in the belly of sleepless nights, i listen for suicide’s call
Christ returns to hold & sing my grief to sleep
he waters my lips, eyelids & skin with kisses, tongue swirls in my favour

By Michael Akuchie

Biography:

Michael Akuchie is a Nigerian young adult writer. His work is on Barren Magazine, Anti-Heroin Chic, Neologism Poetry Journal, Mojave Heart and elsewhere. He is @Michael_Akuchie on Twitter.