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