He sits with his thumbs in knots

a sparrow nestled in his stomach rolls

no need now for further talk of flight

or the lack therof, no need for further, distance

or any departure time, long distance call or marker.

No need for further talk.
 

*

 
Waking early, he returns to sleep.
 

*

 
Every childhood memory now tries

to overwhelm him, laugh and carry him

into their tombs. He stands at the entrance

to each, evades their attacks

then pushes them into the silence.
 

*

 
He sits beside a river and without moving

or disrobing dives in naked. He hears

the melodies of fish, looks up

lipreads the love calls of birds he cannot name

and can no longer find a reason to.
 

*

 
A whiphand, without its whip.
 

*

 
The desperate need for things to finish

has been arrested outside the city gates.

The trial begins tomorrow and, it is said,

no result is expected.
 

*

 
Tied up against a tree, he remembers

the ropes are on the ground. He whistles

and they rise, cobras without heads

without fangs. Useless ropes dancing.
 

*

 
There was consciousness, unconsciousness, preconsciousness,

a conscious effort, an unconscious action, a preconscious knowing,

a conscious reminder, an unconscious thought, a preconcious doubt.

They walked together along the riverbank, wondering why

they'd never enjoyed each other's company before.
 

*

 
Several of us will be visiting

several others of us later.

You're welcome to come. He,

of course, will be there, his sparrow

stretched across his shoulder blades

a motorcade running down his back

and, when he looks down, something

remarkably like a city

but nothing like a building

will come into view on his chest.
 

*

 
The city lifts its ban on autumn.

Maintenance crews lean on their shovels.