Estrangement 2 (Acknowledgement, Desire)

There is

an unbearable existence

in words

an incomprehensible

torturous, elusive

poem

in existence

the poem

of anyone

the existence

of anyone.

Estrangement

January

wind, a feral motion

twisting in and

out between the days;

the days, suddenly

strange to themselves,

estrange themselves.

They turn

inward,

long fingers curling,

pale, digging into

their collars

and scarves,

to seek a warmth

not there.

Miserere

Oh God,

these pathless thoughts

and fruitless dreams encompass me;

be Thou the hope I cannot see.

Oh God,

my twisting lips

and hateful tongue destroy;

somehow, be Thou the word of joy.

Oh God,

my graceless steps

have murdered and entangled all my ways;

be Thou to Thine own Self the voice of praise.

My God, my God,

my soul stripped bare,

I lie unveiled to Thee.

My hope, my joy, my praise,

my prayer: be merciful to me.

Dry Oak Tree

dry oak tree

unlaminated

glistening

curls

a doorway of hesitant circles

low moan followed

clutching spasm

after slowly instantaneous

shattering of limb

her lying still

her turned words

and the darkness

like a sound of horses

growing rising bursting forth

descending out

from limbs and trunk and wind

a rush of wings

threshing of breath

harvest of caught eyes

outcry of blindness

fingers skittering across the stones

braided so deep into

the twist of height

becoming nothing

an arrow

splintering outward

from her break of bended bow

my bleeding temple

streaked across her spattered leaves

stirring against concrete

a new autumnal sound

as I go on

uplifting my destroyed wrist

and clear eyes

In Twirling Arcs of Soundless Light

There are spirits

like white foxes on the lawn,

passing through shadows and

becoming birds

who fall

in twirling arcs of

soundless light,

to land

as plastic bags

pierced through by headlights,

fallen angels or

the guardian stars

of wheel wells.

Withdrawn behind the silhouettes

of oaks and aspens

the moon remains

a coward:

setting--hiding--

waiting

for the light to go away.