When Flesh Leaves Bone

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;