pallisade of pines
     demarks the edge of childhood
           needles on the grass

leaves wait for the wind
     to blow before they rustle
before they—
     fall

tree branch reflections
on the windshield
spread like cracks in glass
      the landscape rushes past
we feel
our imperfections
spread like cracking glass
      on faces that we know
flicker:in the headlit glow
to where it is we go
when ourselves we no longer know

strangers in a car
speeding somewhere in the dark

Stutter,
Patrons ain't
often a city list en-
close lying odist arts
pea king smoothly the truth.
Amen.

St. Utter,
Patron Saint
of tenacity, listen
closely: in God I start
speaking smoothly the truth.
Amen.

plans of youth, they've gone,
into these lives we've settled
dust upon a drum

her face framed—by
e, she said—
      the train window—
                   as it pulls away

come in with the moon
and stay awhile like starfish
stay in a tide pool
both of us under its sway
then parting—
                       moon pulling away