i captured the mood
that you let go
it flew up like a kite
breached the atmosphere
and dove into outer space
like it was trying to escape all bodies—
human and planetary
i was floating along
in my EVA suit, pressurized, detached, untethered
the frayed ends of my harness intimating the moment
i didn’t want to relive
that’s when i saw the mood you let out
so shimmery, so unearthly, so un-rocky
celestial in its own way
it traced around my suited contours
pressing against my folds
tickling against the back of my knees
gathered at the shredded leash
it created its own phantom fastening
between me and the world i left behind
(Editors’ Note: “capturing the mood” is read by Joy Piedmont on the Uncanny Magazine Podcast Episode 28A.)
© 2019 D.A. Xiaolin Spires
