over the salt pans pipelines masts and pavilions
shimmering crescent moon recedes into working dawn--
lone crow against pallid sky
single plume of white smoke on yellow speckled plain
yellowing leaves sparkle in cold breeze--
wave patterns among wave patterns
particles disperse and rejoin
dissolve and reform like the lining of a womb
still
the cold of your absence blows from
the silent tv the parking lot
the balcony with clothes waving good-bye/hello

in the rising day
you keep fading away
don't i know that you're always around
i can reach you if i try
Lily of the Midnight Sky

solders of sunrise--shooting into a forest of flowers
slow motion
petals float into pink crimson white
grow wings
flutter into mountainous distance
flutter like a stadium full of applauding hands
i raise a fist to the marauding sun that has hidden you away
i'm the rag in a bottle of gasoline
longing to ignite
ich will alles
all of you--shining on the panther skin of night
mirrored in a black lake in a night that glistens like blood on gold

nobody else could be you
if only i could see you
i should be able to touch you somehow
i can reach you if i try
Lily of the Midnight Sky
while you look from on high
spare a smile as i
put on my dog mask and howl for you
i can reach you if i try
Lily of the Midnight Sky

-- Boulder, Colorado 11/11/1984