Shape your eyes by shutting them

Face the mirror

lift your thumbs to your eyes and

without pausing for thought

push them from their sockets

Exhale through the agony until

the quelling numb of shock

face the mirror take in your defacement:

your eyelids flaccid shells, red-rimmed

your upturned palms each bear

one blue eye, blood puddled

wonder what vision lets you witness this

wrap your eyes in a tissue

pocket them in case, but

where you’re going, those broken eyes

will only blind you

In a wide wooden barrel she stands

knee deep in enucleated eyes

gathering her skirt around her thighs

she makes wine

stains her feet and calves pressing juice

from ten thousand and one visions

the brew breathes a bouquet reminiscent

of the farm yard on ram castrating day

asphalt and copper, sweat and water

she bows to dip and fill a long-stemmed glass

she passes it to you

the vintage swirls, murky as cider

made with last year’s apples

in the meniscus float unfiltered irises

watching you drink