Safe and warm and dear makes our true home;
I had you at my side and I knew home.
I had you at my side and I knew home.
How the Bridge is Made
The engineers who ruled a younger age
Had visions of a bridge of peerless span;
They set their grand designs upon the page
And called their work the greatest work of man.
Had visions of a bridge of peerless span;
They set their grand designs upon the page
And called their work the greatest work of man.
You’re It
The melody of love rings sweet and true:
in beats of eight we count the music out.
in beats of eight we count the music out.
prayer to the dawning light
brigid walks barefoot through winter snows
a lantern in her hand and flowers in her train
a lantern in her hand and flowers in her train
to my lover
have you ever loved a man
whose smile was the kiss of summer
tumbling into your bed
for the first time each year?
whose smile was the kiss of summer
tumbling into your bed
for the first time each year?
to my waters in winter
the glinting flow of autumn’s tea-dark deep
has given way to winter’s snowy white:
beneath the ice the waters softly sleep
has given way to winter’s snowy white:
beneath the ice the waters softly sleep
to my city at midsummer
the sweet hot air of summer softly sighs
and gentles with the evening’s fading light;
the city stretches out beneath the skies
and gentles with the evening’s fading light;
the city stretches out beneath the skies
to my river, overflown
the river overran his banks this year
not softly, as he does with each spring’s flood
—but in a torrent
not softly, as he does with each spring’s flood
—but in a torrent
to my river
soul of the river, they say
you dress in murk, but oh,
king of waters, i know it is not so
you dress in murk, but oh,
king of waters, i know it is not so
loons call on the lake and i cannot answer
i have listened to you call to the loons on the lake
since the first time i heard that haunting birdsong
since the first time i heard that haunting birdsong
love songs for death gods
by nature i am a monstrous thing
twisted, bent, and torn
an untamed wilderness of thorn and vine
grows where my humanity should be
twisted, bent, and torn
an untamed wilderness of thorn and vine
grows where my humanity should be
Two Elegiac Couplets
Stars all are born in a fire and a conflagration: so with us.
Your hands ache upon me.
Your hands ache upon me.
On Light
The fire seems a paltry, trembling light
Held next to you: for you are making light.
Sonnet for Eivin
I loved thee in another kind of life
that time had seemed to scatter and erase:
the pain, the joys, the sorrows, and the strife