December Michigan
Inside threnody, the parsnips and warm
butter smooth away pale clouds. Beyond the window, tepid branches loosen
fragile weather. Casseroles intended to deflect grief simplify oncoming night. In
a room of one-paned glass, the mattress feels too soft. House noises of ritual
wood pop precede droning of the fridge. How many foil-topped dishes can be
stored on its glass shelves? Bedroom floor of chilled hardwood brittles the
barefoot grief. Walls ought to be warm arms versus a trance of solitude.
Second hand, equality in time, feather
fallen to ground
Summer Ghazal
Young branches extract soil from the air.
Reverie insists upon enclosure.
Conversation seemed a secular sacrament
of video images and set pieces.
Walls left a blue white color sounded a
caesura
Ripe with future possibilities.
Handwritten letters in an acid-free folder
invite a different present tense to hold
still.
Faces at the decade reunion had grown taut
as if to mimic early softness of new
complexions.
A metronome replaced all evidence of dance
despite a slight wind prompting motion in the
clothes.
Gifts with velvet bows piled in the aqua
pickup truck
drew eye light as the calendar kept advancing.
Winter
Lines
Split
wood moistens on the snow
Crumbs carelessly arranged draw brown birds
Sharp lens captures afternoon’s pale glow
Split wood moistens on the snow
Continuo interprets tones made low
The only language sounds its way in thirds
Split wood moistens on the snow
Crumbs carelessly arranged draw brown birds
Pantoum
Roughness leaves the child with no defense
Parent with stippled heart erodes curiosity
Hurt lasts beyond itself
Thoughts require cushioning
Parent with stippled heart erodes curiosity
Every question purifies the space between life
forms
Thoughts require cushioning
This moment will have fed a future pain
Every question purifies the space between life
forms
New skin plump to touch draws no lines
This moment will have fed a future pain
Voices woven into harmony find new
tones
New skin plump to touch draws no lines
Feeling that resembles birth frames history
Voices woven into harmony find new tones
Elastic daylight smooths toward sleep at night
Feeling that resembles birth frames history
A child resists repetitive wind
Elastic daylight smooths toward sleep at night
The thought of dance releases weight
A child resists repetitive wind
Hurt lasts beyond itself
The thought of dance releases weight
Roughness leaves the child with no defense
