Archipelagos

years in a nutshell

talking millions here,

have stood gripping

each other

in deadly collaboration

to make us

see the sun

every morning

through blinding curtains

and crippled illusions,

making us return

to the eternal loop

of ugly things

and lonely things

that strike from

a distance we

can't quite deny,

elucidating independence

and a fakeness

of invisible tranquility

where each of us

spear in hand

have stood guarding

empty gates to

all the things

we dare not share

in this inhuman chain

of separatedness,

until the deluge comes

and washes away

these vessels

of limitless desire

these islands

of queer shame.