I have not heard the siren's song
in quite some time.

In its absence I
have taken up knitting; socks and hats, scarves
of dubious color and shape.
I would give you one, if you knocked on my door.
I'd open with mock surprise,
and, snow covering your messy hair,
you'd smile at me, open that sweet mouth
and say –

But, as I said:
I have not heard the siren’s song
in quite some time.

My dog carries

the chill of winter

beaded on her coat.

You spilled incarnadine

across dirt floor

grainy crystals and flecks of

stone that turned to mud

sunk deep to worms

and roots of trees

that drank your stain

and

turned thin-veined leaf

shy pink until rain

came and

saturated dew

carried you away to

white clouds lost

in the perfect sky.

Don't come over here,
flower in hand,
heart blazing on your sleeve.

All you need to know is that
I am made of sticks
left in the January snow.

For you, I will not catch alight.

In the summer
on the sidewalk
I will drink water
filled with matches
while ******* a copper penny
between tongue and front teeth
When my sister calls my name from
across the street
I'll look up, startled;
bite down
and it will hurt
more than that time I
cut my cheek while chewing
bits of shattered peach pit
from the blender
where you make smoothies
in the summer

Where has brother bird gone?

Asks dog to sly fox

He is tempted in shadows

caught in twisting maze

cuckold with clover honey

and horns of thorny bramble

He has left us to sway

in dead breeze

our faces loosened

grins too tight

We'll feed our bellies

offal and

dead grass

Stiff bodies to greet the

dawning of day

when brother bird returns too late

to sing blood back to royal throne

Come, all trace buries now

in dead light and heavy stone

Hide madness with me

friend dog

To earth and rooted cellar; there

burning pyre

smolders in the dark -

Goblin King will soon be by.

The sun has gone down behind the great hills

Where were you, tiny herald

when heaved the dying breath

molten gold through the air

that echoed mourning

in lost tender notes

They paused to listen

laid down hoes and sickle blades

returned final tremble tones

Slipped away through shadows

purple shapes that clung shifting

grew stronger as sun king fell

and all the world sunk back, hidden to

night goblins, creaked branches hung low

Tiny herald, your song was empty chords

taunted hollow through aching ears

post abandoned

You have banished royal host

to dark nights

shrinking days

Cold winds are blowing

all doors stopped up tight.