Ahead of Heavy Frosts

Ahead of Heavy Frosts

From the two bellies of the whale, from
lines on salted crusts the skins I took,
saw already the towers I could build.

Raised up two faces and a steam on glass,
two tilted panes on jests of borrowed blood,
watchers on beekeeper towers saw signs

on the first day of trips, on every journey made,
lumbering on winter nights the road through guts,
the heavy wheels that smooth the paving stones,

carefully cut a coat to fit the blanket of
my crib, stiffened my body some
to take its weight. For wishes lost

my door made thinner by a door,
for lovers won on sleeping beds
my gate lengthened by a gate

who come and go till gladder hands release
a lightness touching lids on painted brows
fixed on brief intents planted stolen glance

by the ease of loving that we chose this love,
trails of losses tracing prints to each a god
ahead of heavy frosts reaching up to eyes.