the slide begins, but the garden is still alive.

      a soft hum, a busy hive

i try to not think often or much of the skinny
days to come.

      ~ comme ce, comme ca ~

                   i walk, and i cannot yet
see my breath grabbing onto icy air.

     < there, there >

breathe and take the river for a walk.

     the sedum is a pink flush against
     the translucent, jade green of the chrysalis.

this is far and away above fool's gold,
foolish girl, this is the real thing!

she lives beneath your feet, you can
     feel her shift and heave.  she dances
in the middle of the night, she
     leaves on the light.  and you wake.

          (close your eyes, say goodbye to the stake)

you hear her sing, an alone tune
and full of joy.  monarchs float,
full-throated and preparing,

                                           there is a journey to be had.

many argue over and feel certain they
     can see through the end and
                                           into the ever.

you need not fight, you carry the forever
     wrapped in careful packages inside

the spiral staircase and the honeycomb cave.

when you enter, a million whispers to sweep
     you away.  the grains of sand, the soft decay.

and just when you think you are floating above it all.
     she sees you and says,

               "i know you, i know you, come and sit beside me ~ fold me into your hug"


but you will walk on, you know where your embrace belongs.