Hereditary

I.

And so, Solomon finished the Temple which David had started

on the twenty-third day of the seventh month 

he sent the people away to their tents, joyful 

and glad of heart for the good that the Lord had done for David,

for Solomon, and for His people Israel. Thus Solomon 

finished the house of the Lord and the king’s house; 

and Solomon successfully accomplished all that came 

into his heart to make in the house of the Lord

and in his own house. 

-- 2 Chronicles 7:10 

II.

What I did was not wrong, but what your dad did was

sterile yellow-green light

watching from above, momentarily breathless

before flickering again, again, again

toes knees fingertips 

scattered on the floor. crossing from stark-white 

carpet to muted-white bathroom tile

bile, mine, sinking to the bottom 

of the bowl, flaccid hand unable to flush

III.

I didn’t tell you this earlier, but I actually have a boyfriend

numb lips, we’ve been kissing

for hours push pull, limping

rhythm of rowboat at sea

breathing into each other, I’ve got

a cough, dim desk lamp conjures 

shadows in the corners 

of my dorm room, I try not to notice 

as blue mouthwash gurgles down the pipeline