Crashing laughter around our ankles 
Thin, green snares

The snake that bit the dancing bride 
Her anklets on stage

Flashing gold in the drumming dark

In thrall with all the others:

Their quick, red feet. These worn floorboards 
((Water lapping))

Passing leaves like secrets, licked clean

Tender-veined 
She’s colliding with the bridge

Infrastructure – Churning waters

Greeting the rocky, storied shore

Saving roiling anger, thunder, for when we’re 
gone. For when we’re old footprints

Muddy, faceless lineage 
I tilt your chin up.

See: the same constellation in every cluster of stars 
Still,

           resisting inertia