the ermine shiver
a page ripped out
a passage cries to quiver
anointing poems , a frozen room
this grey land storms a labor pain
the puddle , the bellies lake
does blackness wane
upon an empty beds membrane.
the night frock flees
this in between
the spider crawls into the snow
the crow suspends , the fish lay low
blood stalks the stars
and Venus reigns
a dream that drips does not touch down
a dream where wings salute the air
to spill the scent of sweet champagne
she walks the wire a forsaken domain.
Photo credit : Janet L. Doane
her hair hangs ore the river
her hair hangs ore bare skin
her hair an adoration
her hair tormenting worlds
harpooned
the great whale dead and bloated
ice screams from broken bone
Hail Mary full of grace
the river smells of outer space .