Conquering Hero Returns

by Nick Jaina

the trees were all
lifejacket orange
and the sun was frozen citrus
wanting to burst
wanting to burst
wanting to break out and contribute a verse

my head was honey
and the words were flies
and I was surprised
that I didn’t
that I didn’t
that I didœn’t have to make up a lie

they say the fire won’t reach our block
there is a strong wind blowing from the south
there are things you don’t want to tell him
like the night we stayed up
and I kissed you on the mouth

out on tour with the Be Good Tanyas
nature kids, they would lay it on you
even while it bleeds
you with the harvest
you with the harvest
you with the harvest and I with the weeds

there is a street in downtown Sacramento
with a canopy of trees
that I think of 
that I think of
that I think of at times like these

they say the fire won’t reach our block
there is a strong wind blowing from the south
there are things you don’t want to tell him
like the night we stayed up
and I kissed you on the mouth

© 2006 Nick Jaina