Teeth Guards

Excerpt from “Teeth Guards at Night,” from the book “Proof of Flight”:

“…All I saw and almost saw I thought

would be mine, destined for me

because I’m the kind to die trying

in a backyard spaceshot, but now

I’m scared I spent the fuel on take-off

and risk pulling up lame…shatter

in the void like so much windshield.

You shoulda seen me in Super 8!

Heard me when I was young! Heart

of a gorilla, body of a fence post, face

stolen off a Dublin choirboy, eyes lit wild

with fireflies. “C’mon, peace! C’mon love

and sharing! Strap back in, we’re leaving

on my throw of the boosters switch…”