Self-Portrait of Gemini: After Louise Glück

F.S. Yousaf

A soul in me begs to make flowers

out of steamed milk. Works long

hours and smelling

of roasted arabica

and stale espresso. Whose ears are filled

with bright gems and tattoos running

down his left arm. Who dyes

his hair colors

that beg to leave him

as the seasons change. A soul who fixes

his eyes even though

his bank account is red and many

people tell him his eyes

are too small

for his face. Who fears

love, but wears it every day hoping

any passing eye will look his way. Who’s laugh

welcomes others to him

but also tends to assault. A soul

who speaks to the birds perched

on his rusted fire escape as darkness arrives. Their sudden flying

bring him his mother, whom he speaks

to in front of sleeping trees and the empty

flickering road and he remembers

her soft breath, her fingers tracing

his scalp, her gentle voice

caressing his carcass

as her loose strands grace his skin.

F.S. Yousaf is a poet and author from New Jersey. He has his MFA in poetry from William Paterson University. He is the author of six poetry collections: Serenity, Oaths, Prayers of My Youth, Notes on Love (Andrew McMeels Publishing), Euphoria, and Sincerely (Central Avenue Publishing).