I am yellow, rooted
never quite knowing
just how near we might have come
to one another, yet
I thought that I loved as much
by saving all my punishments
to buy this one small island
with some thirty-five souls
brought back to life and for a time
we forgot our differences and instead
fought with shadows for well over a year

now things have greatly changed
where once there was sufficient distance between my guests and I,
room enough to unfold the great thoughts between us
and chairs for all to sit upon
in a glassy calm October

the winds blew rude
along our smooth and sandy beach
though they were surely never worth
my dusty tears

Instead I have been feasting
for some time not quite alone
with the little madame
in the doorway
and where the light has bit my hand
I placed the saucer down before her
I knew she understood my desire
to touch a nodding swallow
prone to fly very low
in spite of callow breezes
and wore both a rare crown,
and an indistinct expression

They hurried after me
pattering like angels’ wings
but it was of no use
asking for so much
the stars were pinned onto a blue felt sky
and the white hot moon let fall a small strip
upon which my fortune had been written gamely

I shouted again at the too-tired birds
open this garden’s gate
and let me see within!

nobody can see us
wasting our days
grinning in a desperate way
within this light
I became aware of strange feelings
of some bleak magic
and alone felt a melting from within
as one might turn around
waiting to compose a beautiful letter
desperate amongst the daffodils

There’s nothing much more to remember
but the starlight
although I felt enough courage
to write a wild letter recalling shadows

when the sea collapsed
I bore the mockery
my mind full of color
continued its descent
past the debris and with such longing

What I had composed
was a rather short letter
a note really
intense and scrupulous
my imagination, free
I addressed you with my instincts
and asked you how you were

I imagined you, seated at the piano
repulsing criticisms and questions
Outside the wind, guilty
has no manners
curling petals
and is a great deal louder
although it doesn’t care about the color

I was in an agony
as I sensed your dismal laughter
What will I do
when danger comes?

I might as well confess
I too have memory
and must put an end to all my adventures
You seemed strangely concerned
and gave out a cry
The moon was curious and
with its hands upon my shoulders
tried to draw me close
but there’s no use talking to it
as I’ve ceased to be young
and mischief makes me tired

I lie in bed making up stories
about all the girls who marry
wandering up and down
long azure hallways illuminated

You looked at me in amazement
back at the house
and I suppose
you wanted to dance beside me
solitary as a goldfish
twisting and loosed out of hell

I felt the demure chill
of a wisteria gazing, watchful
and a little disconcerted
but I’m very fond of you
all the same

I was trapped
by the first move
on the chessboard,
where Truth is terrible
hidden in autumn
a ****** attended, getting brown
a forsaken habit

Taking the most proper
and considerate course,
I sat by the edge of the wall watching,
dragging my shadow alongside
with bread enough for two and
ready for company.
I understood exactly when
you simply said ‘Check’

Why does the snow kiss so gently?
Wayward, with nothing to fear?
I was absolutely afraid to go!
My best room withered in summer days
when the sun barely fell
all animal heat
a flame in each other’s breath
with no chance to cool

Rising up like smoke
and sweeter drops than honey,
a young man’s love flies
and with my eyes shut, my house dreams crooked
I’ll press my whims upon
the mysteries of ghosts whose voices overwhelm large and common in the sunshine
upon that very water,
he trembled vexed
the sky nosed about
looking for present blunders
the daisies are indeed the worst of all
I’ve seen so many gardens
but none such as this

Humanity came to mind
tho quickly vanished into some
summer glory
The burden stilled,
Half-talking yet half-asleep
tried to persuade me
I, being somewhat lucid
curled up in the corner
where I practiced a rude grace
not even a bribing god could intervene
I remembered that the company
within my house had finished,
enjoying too long a visit while
I peered through the window
looking for wild beasts
and a few comparisons,
actions codified,
there I saw that a single dandelion
was watching me from the pasture
across the way
and understood my situation
resentful angels are legion
and shake off their love like sweat
whereas all that was wrung from my heart
could not quite fill a cup,
to spill