the story
lies splintered
a shipwreck

where
is the manifest
buried?

 

***

 

sometimes
it hits hard

a blue seal
rolls under
a wave

a small island
splitting off

sinking to
the seafloor

 

***

 

deep in
her mantle
the fault

splits
the ocean
crust

 

***

 

what faith
carried you
across the Atlantic?

will you wield
your weapon
now?

who kept
your words
in thrall?

 

***

 

how long ago
did her skin
start to slip

the sheath
of a hillside
as the rain turns
to downpour

wrinkles
shining silk
just before
the mudslide

 

***

 

the day of her death
haunts your nights

the void
wanting
merciless

does not tell
when it will come
what will remain

 

***

 

carry both hearts
in your hand

be ready to
strip naked

shed layers
to achieve

the desired speed
for the hunt

 

***

 

always carry
a skinning knife

and sharpening
stones

 

***

 

pack
scissors, thread
nocturnal, sails, needle
earth, harvesting knife
lung, blood, storms
saw, oil, key

 

***

 

for the heart is weathervane
is door is deadbolt is arbalest

is muscle is casket is moss is tomb
is Polaris is needle is vessel is ocean

is rock is sand is time
is kite is air is sky

 

***

 

collapse

her arms
can hold
all sorrow

anvil or
feather