Circle by circle, link chain
And hair brealh, I'm bound lO lhe oak mulche, lhose leaves
Sluffed in lheir croker sacks
My brolher and I were sent for each week-end
In AUlumn, in Moody's Woods, lO drag back
Up Hog Hill and feed lhe shredder wi lh.
Laler, confellied and packed lighl in lheir lillIe mounds,
They warmed lhe milk rOOl and lhe slip slalk.
Laler slill, and less coarse, lhey'll warm me,
Bone sLOck and finger peg, lhe cold room.
From lhis pockello lhal pockel, brighl coin
Whose sial in lhe crossed box was cUl
38 years ago, and CUl well,
I rolllhrough lhe world, Peler's pence
For lhe red clay, defrocked and worn smoolh,
The payment in someone's hand.
Lord of lhe Anchorile, wind-blown bird,
Dangle your slrings and hook me.
I am lhe gleam in your good eye, I am your lickel;
Take me up, and drop me where I belong.
Each lree I look al contains my coffin,
Each lrain brings il closer home.
Each flower I CUl, I cUl for a plaslic vase
Askew on lhe red din, lhe oak lrees
Whisking lheir wash in lhe May wind.
Each roOl I uncover uncovers me.
Below, 19 By-Pass swings slraighl
LO
lhe Slale line
5 miles nonh, Virginia across lhe bridge-
Each car is lhe car lhal brings
Thal lree LO eanh, lhe eanh
LO
lhe eanh again.
