and from my rib
fashion a flute
my wing a lute
to play the lullaby

Michael
Gabriel

set the flame trees ablaze where
they touch the cyan sky and in that instant
rise
find the Holy Ones made beautiful, austere
offer the curved fig leaf of cool water
lower the lamp
dhoop is on the slow burn
horizontal in the temple
Nepalese string, storax and mastic
orris rising- Frankincense bubbling
on the coal
it is in the myrrh rubbed into their backs
plaited into the miles and miles
of braids and muscle
sage burns over the million
reaches the everywhere
Skywalkers in stride
receiving

votive hunger
sworn sorrow
slant desire
bended thirst

prostration upright
as we stand in Blood River
giving giving
and did you hear me
my lost Love?
because I heard you
at this great gathering

how sultry the smoke
clouds change, move, shift
stir in your chest
the knowing
that this love, is greater than
that flesh love

don’t tremble
the drum always sounds more
alluring from afar, don’t go
just yet

Beware of the enemy monk
how pretty the robes
how absent the vine
turn instead
to the wool riders