Torso of Air

by Ocean Vuong

Ocean Vuong

Suppose you do change your life.
& the body is more than

a portion of night -- sealed
with bruises. Suppose you woke

& found your shadow replaced
by a black wolf. The boy, beautiful

& gone. So you take the knife to the wall
instead. You carve & carve

until a coin of light appears
& you get to look in, at last,

on happiness. The eye
staring back from the other side--

waiting.

From: 
Night Sky with Exit Wounds





Last updated February 24, 2023