EamonCeanntPark,ACycle

Ingress
Herbootleathersarewet,grassgreened.

Thingshavegoneagroundatthegrove, onlythefairyringstandsinhercircle ofspectralgowns,

herparasolsallcaughtupinabreezeoflight.

Herwoodclatteryheelssound againstthestonesatthegate. Againstaclusterofcopperedleaves

theiroutsoundings,afiligree.

Inscription
Theparkisscatteredasafterastorm. Thedestructionisknavewrought.

Acrescentmoonisinscribedintothesoil bythesmallgrove, awillowweepsbyitsexit.

Andtheskyiscloseasgoosedown.

Thegeesescreelandbeatoverhead, someonehassprayedyellowpaintonhismemorialstone.

Thereisamaninthestone
Thedewisplayingfireatherfeet, wettingherlegs.

Alegionofrooksguardhisstone.

Stasis
Theroutethroughthegrovesisfrozentoday eventhetreetopsarecaughtinash. Thereisnomistakingthissceneforaballeticstasis.

It'sstickstrewn.

Acoldsunrisesabovetheminarets atpark'sedge. Andthesoundofbellsemanatesfrombehindsomewhere.

Sheisgladtoleave, gladtokicktheicefromherfeetagainstthestones.

TheQueen'sRook
Andwhatifsheenteredthatgardenwearingherlastveil? Theothersbeingrippedbyfiercewindandclaw.

Thewillowslashherface drivingherintoestaticgroves.

Theonlythingseemingaliveinthisdesolateplace IstheQueen'sRook.

Hestalksaboveherveiledhead, hiscalldrowninginhisthroat.

Sheheardaname.

Egress
Shelooksbacktothestone Fromthencetothefurrowedhill, Itisofordinarygreen. Arookisatopthegate.

Shenolongerseesthefaraway litbycareelingcrows.

Thepathisdifferentbyday.

Coda

Itisdarkbeneaththetree.

And,

Therisingsunhasnotyetcaught theedgeofthestone.

And,

Aclutterofdrydebris,ablackfeather ishousedthere.

And, Shewouldsinghimifonlyhelether.

And,

"Intreatmenottoleavethee Nortoreturnfromfollowingafterthee ForwhitherthougoesIwillgo.."

sheleaves.

Chaplet
Aconversationamongsttrees
Icannothearwhattheyaresaying,thatyounggirl andthetree.Theirwhispersareintimate,ceaseless.

Iamsunkintoaconiferhedge,tampedintoawall, threadedintotheblueivy.

Thisisawarmchapletagainsttherain, AndIwouldliehereifitwasntforthesky

theskywillnotskewtomyvision, bodyconspireswithgreenleaftothrustmeforward.

Out.

Bower

AndIambecomeawarethatitistimeforthistocease,

Ameadofdaisieswhitenonthewindwardside ofagrove.Trees, daisiesareblownwhitebeneathsilverbeech.

Thosehuesbalance foronce. And,

andIfIstepatoncefromtheshelterofthisclosebower, Willithold?

Fall
HildegardofBingen
Istepgingerlyovertheplacewhereyoubeggedforyourdeath, rememberinghowsoremyhandwas andthinkingitthenarehearsalforthereal. Iwasnottobethere,whenitcame. Mycomfortisinyourchairs, theoneinthelittlestudyoftiredbooks. Theonewhichlookedoutontomorningandeveningstar. Iwatchthelimestoneoutcrop, Iwatchtheflame inthelimestone thepurple,theyellow, theloosestrife. Devil'sbreadgrowsonthisland.

TheBeach
Draggedimpastoofseaweed achesagainstsilverwaves. Iwatchthewormholes ferrytheirglitterofsand inkaleidoscopes.

TreeWheel
Intherainitsknuckledbark hastheglossofpolish, abottlegreenpatina. Thereisn'taskullheadforpivot, tensionisheldinbackofitspalm itfistsintothesoil, raisingitup.

TheLittleShelves
Yourwillowboundpentaclerests inthesmallshelves,thenotforshowshelves. Booksonmusic,astrology,maths, theircoverscracked. Yourpentaclewasunhookedafteryourdeath. itsgonefromitsplaceonthewall. Answeringasitdidaseedtiedintostring, thatsomeonebroughttohangfromthecurtainrail. Ifoundyourtatteredephemeris, AVision,byYeats. Alavenderswatchdriesdownonthewoodensill whereyourhandlaid, Clawing Youtenseditasyoushowedmethemenoutside.