Facing away from the cavewoman pietà, this bone-wielding caveman tears open his own abdomen, but he’s less brutal than he seems. Candor sometimes demands that you de-form yourself a bit.

THREE SEASONS

     Panting at twilight
the fox halts, and bends his neck:
     “one white bone is yours.”
You shook me half awake look!
with cold, open, empty hands

            * * *

     Beneath your mirror,
light, scarf, gloves, clock, sonnet book,
     a deer tibia—
you beam, and gaze into it

Lose her to God for a while

            * * *

     Four trees fell.
                             She swings
through fresh-mown sunshine, smiling
     over fitful seeds
slight as a hummingbird skull
light as a hummingbird dream

(For all the entries in this series, hit the “looking up” tab, or read the gargoyle FAQ.)