Lost Wanderer

I need to breathe

to let the tension out;

unstick my peanut butter tongue

from the cave's ridged roof of my hollow mouth

open up

wait

for cool water to fall over tentacle pores

trickle down my

dry throat, cracking

parched words.

A desert nut.

I hold my palms up and

thank the mirage

beautiful hallucination

survival song

I whisper,

take me home.

I need more than saltwater lips

and pretty words

my bones ache for rest

for silence in a

rainless storm.

Electric temples

lightning temptress

an ache for spring music

a playlist called summer

tall grass

a clean creek.

Bathe me in light

kiss me with aloe.

Which way is homeward?

Tell me

before I perish.