IN EVERYTHING I COULD SEE YOU

I love the times and bear the times,

and long the deep.

In everything I could see you,

and long the world another way,

and long the darkness pulls in everything.

I could step free of every dream I ever

set my weight upon. I could step free

of every road I leaned my heart upon.

I could step free of every dream in the night—

every dream I could step free of,

every dream I could take care of,

every dream.

I wish I could be you, and see you could

get through, another way I could be you.

I love the times and bear the times.

In everything I could see you.

In everything I could be you.

(September 30, 2011)

ON DIRT GROUND

Three men stood around me,

they made me shoot them.

There they talked with water,

one on dirt ground while thinking about people

I don’t like, the other a father sprung like a wild orchid.

Three men stood around me, one on two sides.

There he talked with the airy glade. There he talked

with the prisoners, to stand with the prisoners,

to belong. I ran back to my car, all alone.

Three men stood around me,

and then with the rain I don’t like.

There I walked on two sides. I was like

a wild orchid in the vine, sprung like a father.

Three men stood around me,

they made me shoot them.

There they talked with the prisoners,

where all the air holes froze up.

(September 23, 2011)