Before the Saxophone

I don't know my dad,
and I am still tattooed on the beach.

My birthday means nothing
to everyone else.

I envy her brilliance
more than each song I miss.

Why don't we kiss
like we're crying all the time?

she envies my fearlessness,
but what she doesn't know is that I am terrified.

tragically magical
is a whiskey door to somewhere.