Kiss


My child,
learn to breathe in the deep water
or you will drown down
below twisting in currents of hair, of words in air…

A plow tastes the earth
the drunk tongue between
Lips of soil
rose and roan
bellied
furrows
purling open…

seed and sun soon mouthed the truth

the hand opens the book for the eye,
a bed of paper on which it lies.

The flames left a body of ash at least, and the smell of burnt wood …

A pause when strangers meet
secrets untasted
boughs
florid and dusty
laden with Fruit
soiled by sunsets
sugars in ferment
lure asp and scorpion.

listen…under the shout of the gale, the chorus of us, all of us, put the shell to your ear…

An empty bowl holds silence
coins disturb the reverie of the beggar

a penny to
caress. Hold it aloft
you can cover the moon.
Flavor your soup. Or throw
It away.