Prelude to Bruise Quotes

“PRETENDING TO DROWN

The only regret is that I waited
longer than a breath
to scatter the sun's reflection
with my body.

New stars burst upon the water
when you pulled me in.

On the shore, our clothes
begged us to be good boys again.

Every stick our feet touched
a snapping turtle, every shadow
a water moccasin.

Excuses to swim closer to one another.

I sank into the depths to see you
as the lake saw you: cut in half
by the surface, taut legs kicking,
the rest of you sky.

Suddenly still, a clear view
of what you knew I wanted
to see.

When I resurfaced, slick grin,
knowing glance; you pushed me
back under.

I pretended to drown,
then swallowed you whole.”
― Saeed Jones, Prelude to Bruise

“THE BLUE DRESS

Her blue dress is a silk train is a river
is water seeps into the cobblestone steps of my sleep, is still raining
is monsoon brocade, is winter stars stitched into puddles
is goodbye in a flooded, antique room, is goodbye in a room of crystal bowls
and crystal cups, is the ring-ting-ring of water dripping from the mouths
of crystal bowls and crystal cups, is the Mississippi river is a hallway, is leaks
like tears from windowsills of a drowned house, is windows open to waterfalls
is a bed is a small boat is a ship, is a currant come to carry me in its arms
through the streets, is me floating in her dress through the streets
is the moon sees me floating through the streets, is me in a blue dress
out to sea, is my mother is a moon out to sea.”
― Saeed Jones, Prelude to Bruise

“I sank into the depths to see you as the lake saw you: cut in half by the surface, taut legs kicking, the rest of you sky.”
― Saeed Jones, Prelude to Bruise

“Your grief will be useful some day, says no one.”
― Saeed Jones; Maggie Smith, Prelude to Bruise

“a current come to carry me in its arms through the streets,”
― Saeed Jones, Prelude to Bruise

“windows open to waterfalls”
― Saeed Jones, Prelude to Bruise

“winter stars stitched into puddles”
― Saeed Jones, Prelude to Bruise

“These hands can’t find the walls,”
― Saeed Jones, Prelude to Bruise

“They die bright, fantastic deaths every chance they get.”
― Saeed Jones, Prelude to Bruise

“to escape the wreck of someone else’s memory.”
― Saeed Jones, Prelude to Bruise