HOLD TOGETHER

The sand holds them together

the dirt and snow held deep together

spread it smooth flat on the radiator

for burning incense in a vessel later

the dirt and snow held deep together

the trees stand black and cut the pink

for burning incense in the vessel later

the pigeons and gulls move high and low

the trees stand black and cut the pink

the people leave the beach before winter

the pigeons and gulls move high and low

I turned and the red-tailed hawk was behind me

the people leave the beach before winter

but their cold plastic blows grey across the ice sand

and the red-tailed hawk was inside me

so the mother squirrel saw right through me

cold plastic ice blue and whimper cold across

now I can only see the willow gold from the bus on the highway

so the mother saw right through me

the hawk's tangle black nest was so high it confused me

now I only see you willow gold from the bus on the highway

(jokey-child-religious-independent pantoums for sale)

tangle black nest was so high hawk it confused me

(we know this pantoum's romantic because it's red)

hokey-mild-religious-independent platoons for sale

but now I always get off the bus too late

we know this one's open because it's red

and keys don't even work in the cold

but now – don't they know it's the end of the world?

The dirt and snow held deep together

And fire them – key don't work in the cold

the sand holds them together