Wild Ways July 2004

Night lit
Tree straight ring
Figures converging
In the leaf walking sky.

Fire breath
Ebb like tide
Light cone condensation-
Tiny in the clouded abyss.

Then
Brilliantly gaudy
She strides forth
In the halo of her hair,
Skirts & branching beams!

Smiles benignly,
Descends again behind
The night web of her veil
Leaving me startled, sudden
Sitting straight
Against my trunk.

Wild Night Queen
You laughed with delight
& your gathered subjects
Stamped their feet,
Hooted their chorus to your song:

"After afterwards,
From before before
Beyond years, beyond hills
The songs & dances of life
Celebrate the single circle."

Barry Patterson, July 2004