The birds are coming back

Like the circus does each year

These swallows -

Etching their lines in this picture

Waves above corn rows

Tides above furrows still frozen

Compass-drawn arrows

Circles drawn gold in the water

Halos

I came up early like twilight

Porous with sorrow

And the sun pulled its roots from the winter

Leaving us all alone -

Suddenly wide-eyed and fearless

I held your hand by the road

Watching the mist in the trees, like halos

And like these birds, my thoughts returning

Tombs in the last glow

Years passed, since you were turned in the grass

Beneath the weightless snow...

 

I'll pluck the down from your pillow

Light you a cigarette

Watching the smoke making rings

Like halos