Self Portrait As Part of a Grateful Universe

When I sleep, the atmospheric weight pushes on my jaw, creaking like overambition– I am pried open Moonlight focused into silver cords light the runway of my tongue Spiders march through pearly gates, little legs stepping over cracked molars They nestle in the branches of my marrow and tie taut webs around my heart Silken string in twenty-four hands push-pull right-left back-forth My heart pumps grateful blood and my jaw snaps shut with the dawn