we live in the tongue of obscurity
and behold the rose of our meaning
with horse courage

don’t minimize the touch
of nature’s prophet and the smooth
glass river she is true to

the dove returns stunned
to the frigid ledge
and trout glide by unharmed

find your clarity in the jack-pine
and the perfect shade into which
the white tailed deer pauses

do you not believe in frost
and the cost of dreams
that conceive change?

when I look upon your stony
untroubled face I see
fire and leaves

it’s strange, no? how hearts
reckon with the mind
how far fear goes to force itself upon clarity

I pity the God who proclaims
the obvious
and passes the day on unsound streets

surprise the earth
see your way clear

unrest