slant-withern summer gaze struck down by tilting spherule home leaf of sourwood jeweling rays wavering alone silver lining every finger tree sisters moon bringers the pale eye in barked arms the baby’s cry in tall branches your dead surround you they want you to be happy the madman’s dance is the surest way into the heart of the universe rave, ravenous in the honey rays until there are no more summer singers only wind and loosened desire rattling like a coal in your chest and when you wake, you ache softly and when you breathe you breathe deeply and feel that all your particles belong together the world is a feast of joy and beauty overruns it an orchard in vines and the peril of your days is the healing tincture swallow this magic whole and wait for the peace of sere winter fields crystalline with hope of a new turning.
