By Madison
Date: 4 November 1999

submerged

your words seep through the mortared stone

words drenched skimming cables
as they siphon as they pour 
rosewater fragments
habit of soul 

spent and redeemed with an ivory comb

on fire i dive into your cove across
the air and stars and pictures 
painted on the ground
a black night-heron nods 

the windless sky responds 

i know your kiss i've felt it press
my nape you traced its vacantness
i know the content of the shell it waits in words
for glances of a touch a soul's caress

and washes clean the marrow of its emptiness.






M Madison
copyright © 1999