february garden

1.
finally the birds
invite me to their party
I bring sunflower
seeds found in bits and tatters
to scatter singing like thanks

2.
these found me wanting
green things curled beneath old leaves
still light-ly dozing

Cave Voices

1.
We don’t know starlight
so long here in the dark
Stay—the labyrinth is safe
quite safe! The monster gone
long and long ago
I didn’t mean to say We
I am quite alone

2.
I follow the thread of her voice
her singing in earth-heart
how unlike the glass-chime
grinding of the spheres
in my clockwork daylight
more like breath of stardust
life-ember hum

3.
The labyrinth is endless
and no cheating death

The thread of her voice
all stardust echoes stilled

The monster is still here
rumbling, low and long

On Silent Night

Always that one note—
the grand build, heart-poured
to unbeautiful climax:
cracked, flawed.
It’s my voice, I say
the way it’s made; but
perhaps I am only afraid
to let go, to shine.
I would sing in the dark
under stars
alone