three sweltering hours west
steel, rubber, asphalt
discourteousness to earth
no one bows
three more hours
bone, blood, tissue
content fades
essence fills the domain
almost-moist moss contours to her feet
pine cones collect and cradle
in the curvature of sweat-dripping fleshy fingers and palms
insights stick
like humidity to skin
mushrooms sprout
in their bold perseverance, they whisper
fat venus envy
a chorus of elements that unbind arrive
out here
she hears herself think
feels herself feel
knows herself clear
naked and subsumed
in the reflexology of slippery rocks
in the acupressure of pine needles
a girlish giddy, a squeak
when her toes squeeze the grass
below her feet
above, a hot sun
a canopy of branches and leaves
protection from the heat
grieving most greatly
losses of tender exchange
flies swarm a rotting fish carcass
a hundred years from now
she’ll fade, relieved even from memory
an invitation
back towards a mission-necessary tenacity
what is begging to be complete!
tracking ripples and waves
leaves floating and settling
birds and bugs blending into the breeze
the streams converging!
the pointers still and mute
release, let go
she just knows
