fire alone is the theme

fire alone is the theme

sleep came once in                           fragments

child dreams:
             to pet a horse
to chase a bird               from a tree.

windy conversations             toss themselves
                  clothes on a line.

muddy,
without shoes

the kitchen is florida
orange.  the                      phone is            ice cream
                                                  melting
                                                         hands.
      
closed
for fear
of busy-ness,

my heart patters softly, a cliche

clicking               its way                   into a chamber
of some gun.       heavy like                  ripe red
meat                   in a belly,                i am seasick

with discovery.
                            the past and
                                            further past
                                sews itself to the mattress
                    no sheet
           no pillows
no feathers
no.
        i've not motioned
into circle          parabola or
line.
                the theme of the night is fire
and i am                                                                       [never & always]

kindling, burning
                                                        alone

12.05.06