stone bright
as if to bring
steady the night
scars the hope
in this town
beneath lamplight
and sleep
collapses within
when time paved
a cerebral tune
more alienated
than those who scourge
open wounds

we walked
the hill street, with
wine in our heart
and the moon was high
past remembering, now
a shell of pity
the only plaintive song
a melody playing
to where corners turn
closes the door

children suffer, then
laughing at the table
where old white roses petals
fall

we shall not die
luminous
we shall play
and bells will have
no remorse

there was no need
to succumb
to plant in the narrow cracks
her petulance, fondling, spurting
feline quips

I'd seen, silently
incorporeal memory scrape some
deluge from the past

of an ocean, and afterwards
mud sticking to the floor
coming down

the long cold night
one drink remains
Virginia smokes, jazz
on the radio, so the
old sinner comes slowly
through the door
James, the dim light you held
has exploded within
blood and flesh, a transfusion
of the senses
a territory, rock
womb, thin as our horizon
a hallowed disk
this sun, eye of God
thin as skin
this our hated sin