remote highways

DANCING BEAR

The multifarious facets of this vine

are emerald-veined, to catch

the sun – each tendril-latch

anchors cucumber to mosquito screen.

Shade-ravines along remote highways

or melancholy tamaracks

up north... waltz parallax

on Ocean Road (revolving maze).

Hobo, drowsing at Camp Who-He-

Who-She-Wah, slipped

down a culvert, overstepped.

His gravity condensed to mercury –

a silver thread of frozen fire;

sum of all his non-

action, his diffident un-

charity (dead fisheye in the mire).

As if the shining labyrinth,

Ariadne’s fever-chart,

led inward (part

angel, part beast).  One leaden plinth,

one stony-crumb foundation (churled).

One personal scar

of sorrow, raveled far

down Rua Tonimminotaur.  Pearled

diamond from Tsyan-Shizi, or

Marienbad – her glance

a glint, a last-chance-

ghost, a smile (for dancing bear).

9.2.16