Cicadas And

Cicadas and my love
under the juniper tree
where she like a sea horse

rocks to and fro
as if the source
of sea foam and all

the frothy flowers
that mesh together
aglow before nightfall

she rocks and rattles
window panes
during quiet evenings

when my only thought
takes shape as the burning
carcass of a hedgehog

under a blacklight or

as shadows rising toward
honeysuckle   so

where do the suicides go?

we have nothing to do
before dying

flap your wings and
fly to me

Copyright © 2003 Nathan Hoks All rights reserved
from Crazyhorse
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission