Stacie Cassarino

“Remember Rio de Janeiro, the size of God’s hand, sardines fleshed-open at the market, the way I entered you and moved inside? Looking down, is this the kind of density you can live with? What is the slightness of our bodies to stay, to be good at loving a second time? My mouth pretends it is an oar when it lives inside your mouth, but you are far away.”

“Dear god, it is years since I've prayed.I understand the birds are holy.I understand the body leads us to love, orthis is one way of knowing the world.”

“We should insist that letting go is one form of hope. Here, defiance in a stand of evergreens.”