Rite

Rite

This is no mistake --

And cheaper than butchering 

A beast.

The river reels;

Wheels stick in the mire,

The ox's tail gets wet.

Be still.

This offering is equal 

To your neighbor's.

Listen: 

Pipers pipe the feast.

Memorial Day

Feeling somewhat righteous
On my knees, suddenly, it came to me --
Who will clean my grave
When I am gone
Beneath the dusty stone?
Who will find the time?
I know: none. Not one.
For all my young, it's not in you
To brood on what is gone.
Don't get me wrong.
You remember, you do,
Then let it pass on by.
My mountain grave --
Grow high with rose (with hope)
To overtake the rue.

So Dear

So Dear

Everywhere, next day, I looked 

For that helpless speckled thing,

Patient forest babe, all ears and eyes, 

Watching, waiting, staying.

Gone, as I had hoped, gone 

From underneath the tree

To walk beside her mother. 

Before long, she will walk alone, 

Gambol, jump and play.

I hope she sees another day. 

I hope she comes to stay

Where she was born, 

Where she lay beneath 

The Blue Spruce tree with me.

Deep

El Yunque National Park

Deep

How breach the invitation
Of the blackgreen dark?
How stay the shade around me?
Green-gold light above,
Surf-green blue below,
Viridian that wraps me like a gift.
I dive between the leaves,
Swim along the trees, agile as a fish.
My ultimate desire, my most fervent wish:
Deep. Green.