I tried to leave the deer
in common places I am from
standing in the door
where river becomes wind
River pushed this door into me where I
considering the screen
knew the danger
velvet pushing blood in eyes
implication of polished bones
»
The first time a large buck stood in my path
black water welled at my feet
thick like syrup, or blood, or —
The night already perspired What else
does the sky hide?
A meadow
where I saw my bones dressed and laid
to rest, turned field by polished points
split feet
»
Lift the stone—
these are still auspicious days
Three bucks chase the road I carry
from the mountain
I wanted to be small like the fawn
nursing on the side of the road
but my limbs won’t fold
Already water pools
Black water wells over the bones we have shed