"COVER STORY"

Espionage-a-trois:
bermuda triangled
off the map
a pajama’ed catnap
waterproof wills
and airtight appetites
unfurl the sail
when the wind bends to bite

our correspondence coarse
kicked in the connect shin
minor bruises in major battles
are permanent pinches
like brands upon cattles

have you herd
the swallowed suffix
of each dirty word?
her curses come
under rays and ribbons
sent with sweet scent
ex postmarked the spot--
a covert corner of the world
where leaves are curled
but not long enough to hide
a layaway who lied

compass in a bucket
and see if by luck it
will lead you to bounties
of blackberried treasure;
when you hear my cry
with sextant you’ll measure
the place where your anchor
will incur the end of the line.