now the measure is full
all drunk
all sunk in

(countless horses
raced
over my chest

fine dust
lifted
from crumbled ribcage)

the sun
bled itself lavishly
to the final drop

hot wind
licks
my parched skin

—

Toti O’Brien is the Italian Accordionist with the Irish Last Name. She was born in Rome then moved to Los Angeles, where she makes a living as a self-employed artist, performing musician and professional dancer. Her work has most recently appeared in Circleshow, Fire Poetry, Paper Earth, and Fishfood.