Earth Deep

Earth Deep

Shann Ray

— for GMH

There is an earth
Color to what
We share at the points
Of our cheekbones
Met with something more
Than light, but what?

Lean in pull me a little closer
Press your cheek to mine
Then the jawline let it be seamless
With the crease of my neck.

In this way we enfold each other or in reverse
My jaw nestled to your neck as we sleep,
Skins speckled brindled who knows how? Nothing needed
Now but this togetherness.

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Shann Ray
Poet & Author

Shann Ray received the American Book Award for his short story collection American Masculine (2011, Graywolf). His most recent poetry book is Atomic Theory 7: poems to my wife and God (2020, Wipf & Stock).

Photography by Ali Karimiboroujeni