the coffin draped in green and gold brocade the wooden stairs lightening on the horizon my parents young again and making the same mistakes the plum in bloom
I thought I saw
the lake through the trees a loon dive for pearls and a trout rise
I thought I saw
the trail of evidence little twigs turned to silver the brain open and the parts numbered doves practicing arabesques for the day of peace
I thought I saw
a bear in the blackberries
but it was just a stump
I thought I saw
the heavenly host glorifying god
but it was just a flock of waxwings
I thought I saw
Castor and Pollux
but it was just the neighbour’s porch light
I thought I saw
the cradle rock itself and skeleton woman sing herself a body
I thought I saw
green on the hills and the river where it once had flowed all this under water
