45

Puts out the sun     & leaves the field     all white
& spun away     a milky web,     unearthly
blind     & melted     into burning tongs,
hammers out the galaxies     high-tested fire
sword-sharpened     marked     by mockery
& hidden     bivalved moth     of murky tongues
you blaze, Aurora     tapestry of night
& turning     shining     constellated     Sire

your     mystery
unfolds             these
               rose
        lips'         petals,
                                    portals
rustle a     russet     sigh

 

46

Rustle a     russet     sigh
spread risen     pole to pole
& whispered     black     on high
              stem
            thornèd
            throned
              a
             psalm

Out of the shortest day     a narrow berth,
a vessel pledged     to covenant of grief
       & joy--
& lift your voice with voices     leaf on leaf
out of the mournful festering     of lying earth

---

Henry Gould | Island Road 47 and 48
Contents | Mudlark No. 6