smooth articulate voice
quiet like a glade signal
the forest is listening
each drop waiting
humid tension
shadows like the edge
of an iris
at the birth of night
birdsong and insects
stilled
a moment held

like a white wing stretched
poised and held
hypnotic
dose
distraction

spines swaying through
the trails
the light diffused
like vegetations smell
tobacco in its strap
the soil soaked into
pores laces
pockets nails

like letters
from home waiting
my heart is a stone
for the acid etching
rolled like rice
for a meal
and the bare blue
naked skie
with its white walls
rising like monuments
in the tall reeds
a page
where cranes sail
and whirling moments
descend
when the tension
releases its ringing
in my ears

when the hour passes
in peace
and no storms land

you are my vortex
drawing me shelter
beyond transistor
relief

beyond the mind numbing
routines
and camp dogs
squatting

worn against my hipbones
sore

you are my fresh love
and i am your forever
changed old man
sleeping on sheets
while lavendar from
a hedge pushs in
at night

pushs in like concussions
pushs back the coiled
black painted serpent
eating rats of madness

i can smell the sunshine
and backyard cut grass
everytime this rain
this rain falls down
we get back up

and continue on
to our greater deliverance
you are my arrow
full of your pure feathers
drawn tight against this
string that will release
me across the great
voyage of this moment