PAMPHILET n.2
I.
Leaves imbued with silver, grazed with flame.
A ceramic bowl my mother made,
the symbol of it in words and air. A spell enough
to change a world, perhaps if I try hard enough—
Roots curve under the strain of the incantation
as trains rumble the earth. Metal jangling
against the ancient soft. Ashen fascia,
precious joints. My voice,
firm like sword and shield, that morning
into battle. A dream of excess
lies shrouded in leaves. Vines curl up the altar
like flames at the burning
of my last body.
II.
Girl, watch the spectral painting emerge
from the stones.
Girl, watch the river marbling like your ancient black hair
spiraling down from the sky. Long moss
cradled along the spine. Plumes
of umbered berries
descending.
Dreaming, precise,
darkly intelligent.
III.
To alter the nature of one summer
as fireflies escape into the gloam
where I once called a fox my lover
and his shadow my enemy.
To search for alternate ways of life,
alternate worlds in the scrying bowl.
We were once precious
to each other. Caressing
and corrupting the ancient roots,
the data of the trees.
Maps crystallizing.
imago triptych
rachel jihye hanI.
Leaves imbued with silver, grazed with flame.
A ceramic bowl my mother made,
the symbol of it in words and air. A spell enough
to change a world, perhaps if I try hard enough—
Roots curve under the strain of the incantation
as trains rumble the earth. Metal jangling
against the ancient soft. Ashen fascia,
precious joints. My voice,
firm like sword and shield, that morning
into battle. A dream of excess
lies shrouded in leaves. Vines curl up the altar
like flames at the burning
of my last body.
II.
Girl, watch the spectral painting emerge
from the stones.
Girl, watch the river marbling like your ancient black hair
spiraling down from the sky. Long moss
cradled along the spine. Plumes
of umbered berries
descending.
Dreaming, precise,
darkly intelligent.
III.
To alter the nature of one summer
as fireflies escape into the gloam
where I once called a fox my lover
and his shadow my enemy.
To search for alternate ways of life,
alternate worlds in the scrying bowl.
We were once precious
to each other. Caressing
and corrupting the ancient roots,
the data of the trees.
Maps crystallizing.