ghazalrz

V
the roofs shone silver and the tops of wings flashed white
outside came in today and then shied away


i know that trees warm each other even under
the snow. that’s how i want to be with you


sunlight eased up the windows in one long exhalation
copper in golden blossom, then flames drained amber away


we’d married, divorced, mended; had children, sighs, tears,
smiles, disputes—then none! all before she even wrote back


moon
are you my friend?


VI

he thought of stories and poems as people with personalities

and it was his father who started filling his room with friends

the bear scat was fresh. they only had a few apples.

they portaged over the sand bar when the moon rose

the Mandans would cut off finger tips

as a display of grief. i was born a crab

the words that fall into place are not to hold

back water, but swim in a common sea

my street could play the game of collecting license plates

from other states. are they still made by inmates?