Lanthanum 12.21

21

I’ve lived for some years now   along Abba River

in Q’ville   a stream wide, deep, invisible   to which

Ocean is tributary   & stars are lights   each

in a niche of a bend   along its banks   a quiver-

full are clustered   at the center of the earth

matrix of bends & origami folds   a silvery thread

knotted tight   & gleaming there   the stream’s head

source &   watershed   (east   west   north   south)

This river’s where   inside turns out   & myrrh

turns mirror (by St. Louie MO)   where wanderer

goes OM at last   prodigal Absalom   to his poor

long-forsaken Solomon (Abba   Pop   Dad   Father)

& the tripod of their lost, lasting embrace   is

bond of universal steel   (titanium-lanthanum-

oxide alloy)   which is most tautwound   anthem-

flower   in the planetary plot   grave Providence

of all things   in those arms   their hands

united   fingers   interwoven &   unbreakable

palm-vault   beyond every Olympic pinnacle   of

bronze or gold   & racing now (triple-handstands)

toward that Finnish line   in summertime   halcyon

days   up north   (is it Karelia?  Sibelius swam-

pineland?)   where a vain little man   in his own

birch canoe (Longfellow?  Hiawatha?)   glides down

Minnehaha Creek   his boat festooned with 7 flags

of 50 stars (red, blue, purple)   a paper hat (or

tiny boat) crowning his brow   crowing   Excelsior!

paddling home   (homesick Frank   in his glad rags)

      7.1.12