#intricate rituals

behind the school,
we scrum. we bum rush.
we hum the slur, sing
for brief carnage.
We drum skin red,
become bruisenumb.
we limpwrist
launch the football
above us, spread
arms to catch its descent, then
thrum with violence.
we come
undone.
no rules except
blood glitzing
grass, curbside,
parking lot
gravel sparkling
in sunlight like glitter.
there is no other way
boys may touch,
may hold each other
against the dirt.

- Derek Berry, queer the smear.