August Eclipse 2007

“They should put out the eyes of painters as they do those of bullfinches,
to make them sing better.” Picasso


Drenched in moonlight
the midnight water is moving
the river to the sea
past the open mouths of
coyotes howling at the full round song of the moon
calling back to herself
all the waters spread beneath her
all the waters inside us
all our inner tides complicit
rising to her round measure of time
appearing and disappearing in her cool silver sphere
this lunar wax and wane true as the shadowed penumbra of our imaginings
wandering our own warm sea like a blind prophet
singing out in this vast emptiness
for us to hear the words of invisible power.
Listen to what calls from the deep well of darkness.
Incorruptible celestial guide lighting our skins
shining bright as coins
closing the eyes of the dead.