I, FOR ONE CHOOSE RAIN

I, FOR ONE, CHOOSE RAIN

The bones were all disordered and covered

With a fine layer of dust.  We were as 

Surprised as morning that we had found

Anything at all.

We heard a voice crying out.

It sounded like it knew

Our names but we could not 

Be sure.  We could not be sure

Of anything.  A green belt around

A pool of water, both deep and 

Clear with a black bottom

That made the surface dance.

And it was exclaiming something

Very important.

The entire scene was an accident

Of the tide.  A blind wind and a blind

Water forced up to make a statement

That could never find words

But which would stand as firm

As God’s promise to a blind man

That he would see again.  But no one

Ever saw.  It became a clipped 

Presence, never offering comfort.

I, for one, choose rain

As a veil.  I will only see

What it allows; the edge

Of an alley, a man hurrying by

Bearing a large vessel that smells

Like coffee.  He has long

Mustaches and wears a turban.

I had a fever and forget how the thing

Ended.  She asked if there was real

Fire in my heart and I showed her

the pile of sticks I had gathered

To feed it.  She looked deep

Into my eyes.  I could see

Door after door closing, until there

Was only me and her once again.

Bones scattered all over the floor.