even bugs leave smudges
on despicably clean things.

years are live coals,
do not keep in pockets.

the well-earned scab
carries no shame–

even the earth groans
between giant sidewalk cracks.

several trillion hourglasses
broke for this one sand,

and how many more
for the glass.

a grass stain is a miracle,
blood of the sun

holeyness all-revealing:
my heels will glow

with callous kisses
carrying small things
like the world