NAUVOO ( Stanzas 1-9)

don't look for more

it is only the moon above the sun above the moon

you as much the moon you hovering sun all the more in blue

the buddha stands stares in spring's wet earth

he is caught between the river 

your  mountains between the crane

and crow between the senseless dove

singing finch

it is the nauvoo 

the new of you

the coyotes dark shadows

own the washboard road

the old fence marks the sold ranch
only the coyotes stand defiant
in the biting cloaking dust
lope away to the north
to their snow dusted mountains
nauvoo

from the mud from the muddle
from mumblings of one tongue
sweeter than the next
breezes silk his cheeks
one way or another
whispers become screams
screams become whispers
nauvoo

tenuous us
the clouds colorless blameless
bind the wanting sky
bind the mindless wanderings
desert beggar
beggar of tokens gold
a midas alone
finally cleansed
in his river
of nothingness
nauvoo

touch me when the wind
touches the sun
am I enough of a forgiveness
enough of what
you want me to be
the voodoo
the truth
a breathless magic
throw of the bones
the rattle spitting sparks
becoming stars
smoldering moon
becoming you
nauvoo

wishing you
nearer wishing
bothered wishing
helpless wishing you
wishing the sun and moon were one
wishing on the stars
like the song you sung
on the last night
last kiss
of my
insisted
existence
nauvoo

the beating drums
cymbals
the distance before me
is a circle spinning
it is closer than
I think and thinking
should be outlawed
feeling is the new law
of the land
the cymbal
a frantic dance
a mad tango
nauvoo

she claims this is not a place
it has no center no core
I think of places before her
and after her
the negative space
between the cottonwood
holds the cattle
the sandhills
shredded light
maybe this is a piece
of something
a place
nauvoo

I cry for the sake of tears
for the portuguese sea
the horse rests his head against my cheek
breathes warmly sleek neck mahogany
ebony mane
where is the poetry in an animal
malice of man
perversions
of verse
mistaken
for me
nauvoo

jppestana
2.20.2017