when flesh leaves bone
when the windy blood sails itself to a dead soil
round turn and two half hitches
knots soul to sea
in honour brown as birds
as cruel as heart devoured by harvest men;
when death spins web
when circles vultures brains on prefaced lots
circled crops halfpenny for the Alfalfa fodder
bone deceives the flesh
the leach that bails the hay bridge
a limp walk tacks each footstep of the plough;
this seed of death; this seed of sudden calm
where lemon balm dives deep red basil eye
the mole of heart; the knave of spades digs deep
this treason on the deep seas hollow epitaph
I came. I lost.
I lived but died a bitter man not knowing;
when flesh leaves bone
with heart of forest flower
as delicate as snow as bright as starlight
now a servant to the forest floor to rise once more
to live again
to live and love to die a better man this time
a second chance
a better man now knowing;