Joni

From the far side of the hill she speaks down to you from above. You’ll always ramble when you tell this story— how she borrows the moon’s voice to share her thoughts and all her peace enters you.

You are new now. You think of her in midsummer, and when you need the courage to behave badly, out of your own body, being bold and magnetic. It makes you get your work done, too,

and it always makes you want the mouth that is open. You’ll forever feel the sour stomach of apology, but you do not let it plague you anymore. You are new,

and all that remained unsaid is coming up fresh. You grow obsessed with what you need to know and then, teach yourself to ask. You will know.

Joni is on your voicemail. She visits you in hallucinogenic stages, sits beside you like you sat with her. Joni is a protective eidolon, maternal gossip sentient in flickering candles. Joni crawled under your skin while you were not looking.