after “terminal paradise” by Adrianne Lenker
Bare,
skin bare,
thrashing in the waves,
I reach for you, for air
then sink down below.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bear,
feed me fish
and sassafras fruit,
I’ll be your cub.
Soles
cut deep on bramble thorns;
I climb to pulsing hives
and dig for honey.
Soul,
solely sinking
into hollow breath
and ceaseless hunger.
Man,
tag me, track me throughout
seasons of feasting,
dreams of easting,
watch me roam.
Man,
man the bow and arrows:
split membrane with obsidian,
skin prey with your steel.
Reddened pebbles, tufts of fur,
are all you spare.
Thoroughfare,
I forget the route
my roots explored,
steered by elastic sunrise
snapping with sudden rays.
You illuminate my journey
until dusk desaturates the wood,
color drains from tongue and iris
and clicking beetles loom in the dark.
Thoroughfare,
air inhaled, exhaled,
wind sings through crickets,
rainstorms soak hickory,
leaves pucker with dew.
Watch for signs of spring,
of my return to you.
.
Megan Wade
.