“The silver shadow where the line falls grey and pearly
the unborn villages quivering under the rock
the snail travelling the crevice the furred, flying white insect
like a tiny intelligence lacing the air
this woman whose lips lie parted
after long speech her white hair unrestrained
All that you never paid or have with difficulty paid attention to
Change and be forgiven! the roots of the forest muttered
but you tramped through guilty unable to take forgiveness
neither do you give mercy
She is asleep now dangerous
her mind slits the air like silk travels faster than sound
like scissors flung into the next century
Even as you watch for the trout’s hooked stagger across the lake
the crack of light and the crumpling bear
her mind was on them first
when forgiveness ends her love means danger”