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CONTENTS

RAIN FILM

9 UNDULATE, MY TONGUE
10 RAIN FILM
11 ISLES AND RIVULETS
12 SEAWARD
13 MALINGERING
14 VOYAGE
15 CHRYSALIS
16 THE BELLS
17 THE WORLD OF DYING LOVE

WHISPERS

19 DARKENING GREEN
20 WHISPERS
21 TRESPASS
22 FOREST SPITTLE
23 SEAGULLS
24 LA DOUCE MER
25 GOURDS
26 RESIGNATION
27 THE BREATH OF CANDLES
28 GREEN EYE SHIELDS
29 INVESTITURE
30 THE SPOKEN WORD

TESTIMONY

32 SMEARS
33 TESTIMONY
34 FORTRESS SNOW
35 CIENFUEGOS
36 DEVASTATION
37 BEE AN APPLE
38 EMPTINESS
39 CLAWS
40 MOON DARK WORLD
41 THE ELYSIAN FIELDS
42 BARBARY WHITE

THE BURNING

44 PENCIL SKETCHES
45 EMPTY WARRIORS
46 THE KEEPER OF THE JEWEL
47 ROWING WITH CRAYONS
48 COLLUSIONS
49 GOSSAMER THREADS
50 A FACE
51 THE BURNING

THE GATHERING OF DEAD WOOD

53 GREEN ANGELLIGHTS
54 EYES INSIDE
55 THE HYDASPES
56 SLEIGH BELLS
57 ORIFICE
58 PECULIAR MORNING
59 W H E R E
60 THE TREASURE SHIPS
61 HANNIBAL
62 THE GATHERING OF DEAD WOOD

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UNDULATE, MY TONGUE

My tongue undulates, a wave to shore,
knocks a vigorous reef,
then slides to sea once more.

The coral pink horizon of the mouth,
cavernous shores,
my tongue laps pier white teeth
in servitude like an oar.

Heavy drifting, bobbing as a buoy,
the tongue sinks slowly down before
surprising saliva
going ashore.
9
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RAIN FILM

On the night of the rains,
water was oozing out from
the sky's swollen stitches,
a rash developed across
the meaning of the heavens.

The wooden floors of my attic place
strove for a deeper tone,
a hoarse calling
grew louder as I paced
trying to see rain.

I followed the gravity of the treasure hunt
where each bounce meant a slap
across a table top of tension,
where the window basted winter black rain
and silence paid another call.

I am as much as this water flower, rain.
I am as impressionable as the city that stops for rain.
And I lack the same substance that dooms water to be
a soft pillow feather; excepting this,
I may still shatter this thing, March routine existence
by dabbling in destruction.
10
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ISLES AND RIVULETS

On your brow, the steppes of Asia
are fetched by deep set eyes
A colouring distict with mystery
perceives the Polos greeting the Great Khan,
the golden isle of Ciphangu, the sultry east.

I