NAYELLY BARRIOS

from Asylum Mobiles Adrift

It's the dark of His pupil she said
God is peering through the wall

I said Someone from another universe
is trying to cross over

Upon the discovery of a window
into an alternate universe
in our living room, my sister
began building a house
out of bibles & hymn books.

Said it would keep us safe,
kept repeating     be sure to secure your mask
before assisting others
began calligraphying
her lapses
on the walls and windows,
tethered herself
to the doorknob of her house,
tried pulling me in.

I tell her            your house can do nothing for me.

These are the branches I say       the branches that have fanned
since we learned to make choices. Each branch     another real life
with another real you.


she insisted These walls swallow sins.