before life retreats

[sweetwater]

oh lover had not forgotten
down three steps
the door on west side
i open
for patterned the pag'an go
swirling mists lost in the word chisel
she sculpts eternity
but I won’t lie to you
broken pieces
protest the
last century and done to
depend on breathing

rock and back
I feel magnificently alone
smooth sculpted marble convinced
my toad that one was
her cricket

before life retreats
leaving only memories
to believe in you

[panta rhei]

i open the west door
of my patterned ego

and find my lover
three steps down
like smooth sculpted marble
swirling in mist
and in last century's
broken protest

and rocking back and forth
in rock and eternity
i feel maginficently alone
as life retreats
leaving only memories
that depend on breathing

and on you