she and i often say how glad we are 
we have so many sisters and brothers 
their faces like unveiled stars 
their engines sacred in flame 
so when we drive to the edge 
of the cliffs above the beartooth plateau we know the sun is our own 
and you the web of light below 

these trees of spectral color silvered by the constellations  

the ground beneath us is dark 
and your burden light 
the meadowlark the swift the swallowtail 
our feet are dimly illumined and hope still continuous 
o sister windbird and brother fire is there anything more beautiful 
than a woman leading the people in praise 

                                                                 iv.11 

Shann Ray | Atomic Theory 432, iii.1
Contents | Mudlark No. 64 (2018)