with michael and mary on a rock in a stream near cepowig
so called saltpeter sulfur and charcoal
both big and little in this short story
for count of fifty curled face down
twelve hundred thirty five days post fetus
with michael and mary on a rock in a stream near cepowig
part of the rock briefly
come from mink blue heron rainbow trout mother downy woodpecker
somewhere between pretending newborn held needing
and wanting to ride warrior on a great ball in space
the young child could have been the rock
as the gunpowder fell softly around
no better perspective than the skin of the dark gray rock
as the gunpowder falls softly around
pause in sorting the so many reasons why
same why different reasons
same reasons said differently why
as the gunpowder falls softly around
their why some future only theirs
with michael and mary on a rock in a stream near cepowig
for just a moment then
floating through mink blue heron rainbow trout mother downy woodpecker
with the gunpowder softly around
further east and south
a smaller sister stream
on an outcrop from deep below
where turtle plays possum or sleeps like she was washed up in a flood
crickets swim across the stream at the swimming hole
the whys resolve into dust scattered around
for all moments forty five months ago for ever now on
grandbeautiful babys sister mother
not napping but with michael and mary around a stream near cepowig
perfect ruckus the falling little gunpowder
until the great ocean is grandbeautiful baby