Cork

they made my bones out of cork

doctors say i’m a floating thing

scientists say the world is made of water

spiritualists say follow the water and you’ll follow your heart

politicians say they own the northern star

business says it’s my job to preserve these songs, the songs of old, songs to be sold, composed for masses
      of calcified people
sovereignities of peasants with attics full of un-pulled triggers
families who gather before their chrysanthemums wither
in the absence of dear old mother
preserve the songs for lovers in hotel-room affair
and for the plaid-shirted entrepreneurs jealous of the pirate’s purse
sing until the heat death of the universe
these songs must be sung!

preachers say they dipped my bones in wax so my marrow will be fresh on judgment day

Kory Vance is a poet, fiction writer, affordable housing professional, and amateur strongman living in Sacramento, California. In his poems, Kory employs soft world-building techniques to immerse his readers in a cosmos of poetry. His work can be found in The Oakland Review, The Antonym: Bridge to Global Literature, Salmon Creek Journal, Sinking City, Southern Florida Poetry Journal, and more. Kory is currently working on two full volumes of poetry, titled Bury me with Rosemary and Poems About Aliens. He is also a regular performer at the legendary Joe Montoya’s Poetry Unplugged. For more, visit koryvance.com.