Yellow & Blue
a selection
on a morning early
when no one
is around
the scree slope
tumbles into
the green lichen
an insult
hurled in the face
a pebble-dash
of raindrops
the rain-drenched
cloudberries
taste of earth
and cloud
rain is falling
there and here
on an earth
or ground
repeatedly affirmed
as if it were
unbelievable
lie back in the heather
the winds are silk
cloths drawn lightly
over the slopes
the cheek bones
consonants with varied
points of articulation
palatalized and rounded
sibilants affricates
clicks clacks diphthongs
a burn or babble
of open vowels
older than looking
this listening older than listening
this lonesome
touch
it takes a lot
of noise to clear
old sunlight
from pine woods
light that might
spread indefinitely
never to be known
is trapped in leaves
and pulled down
through the tree canopy
around everybody
nothing hides
in the abandoned places
no household gods
no folded spaces
flint left in the wall
long idle
a jug of water
a chink of light
a twist of smoke
wash it in the burn
dry it on a thorn
sew it with a needle
with pure white thread
putting the iron on it
press it and warm it
place it crisp and folded
in the right hands
neighbors on the doorstep
nomads at a border
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Carcanet 2014
