Try as I might, I cannot 

get rid of them. Wind 

from passing prayers

blow through their hair,

lifting wings and flowing robes,

the smell of cake, 

glitter everywhere,

bare feet and backdraft,

inescapable fluttering

like a swarm of butterflies,

a million puckering lips

cheek kissing allatonce.

Something so close and yet

untouchable. Something too real 

to be believed.

…

Brian Builta lives in Arlington, Texas, and works at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. His poetry has been published most recently in Freshwater Literary Journal, Meridian, and Red Ogre Review. In first grade he won a blue ribbon for the 35-yard dash and in second grade he was Most Outstanding Student for the month of October. He is the author of A Thursday in June and Everyday Oblivion and more of his poetry can be found at brianbuilta.com.