ACCOUNT OF MY DAYS
Sequence: 4
YELLOW BIRCH RAVINE, HEMLOCK CLIFFS
go an hour south
5 degrees warmer
10 days' advance on the season
come to the land sparse of men
rock cliffs in the trees
dog running ahead ravines mass
deep sculpture branching in
go up the backside of the ridge
higher higher the heart opens
woods broken by pasture
tall tufts of last year's grasses
tan touched with red
the world is all beauty 190 dead
1200 injured though harsh
but cruelty is our game
we never tire of
find more cliffs walk in their bed
green mossed rocks first spring beauties
hemlocks give sound to the wind
streams thrown over
the rock edge become rain again
long drive home
like mourning
or escape from mourning
don't expect too much
as you tire
you'll fall asleep
to the wind's sound
and creaks the house makes