and there,

                                                         (hush, hush the silence is growing)

     the mirrors

one after the other
       stacked, against the orange
bricks, aligned and close
           to the fire.

in the reflection, you see
       everything you are,
         
           exactly opposite.

crazy times, whispered lines spinning.

time and space.

the deep, unfathomable waters.

angels fly, their wings
blur, constellations unaware

of their origins.




and in the beginning, i was
surrounded by quiet.

my ocean, the sea, a reflection.

this is un-ending. without edit.

the story, before the story.



we were trees, green and slow to grow.

old growth, undying.

i know hell,
the flames,
the demons,
a devil.

i know heaven,
        i had some peace
       to try, some
           manna to taste.

                                         
                                                        (hush, hush, the wild things are birthing)


these are the things
we find.

earth, third planet,
blue alive and dying.
i did not want to
come, i was tired
deep into my marrow.

but once i drew the
mantle of oxygen
around my shoulders,

i cried for the joy

for the devouring pain
for the love
the fragile beauty

    of it
         
            all.


                                                         (hush, hush, you are wrapped in the loving)


you know and i know.
when the oxygen hits,
everything blue changes.



we are red,
   
             shocked and shocking.