GLOAMING IN SOME GARDEN

the sea’s horizon invisibly inspects these gaps in the wall
fan’s ivory ribs cast off one by one    among the pine needles
smell of sulphur set with peacocks
tiny dead footsteps

again words    divide two conversations still further
again more moments extracted from within this moment
birdsong    a space of waking at five p.m.
cigarette smoke curling, building up    marbles clap their wings

again more origins vanish    breathing
left behind    poking the soft belly of the sky
again it’s painless    a stretch of blue leaking electricity
extinguishing once in being appreciated is as fresh as the first time

the day so big    big enough to let broken oars of clouds drift by
we sit among smoke-cured trees
fallen in love long ago with a banished whistle
be darker    take tonight away again    together with thousands of years