Littoral: field notes

lake: lifts a plate of light—
not a plate, a hush wearing light.
rimmed in living reeds / still violet on the rim.
(you hear the small silver insect cutlery?)

pond: keeps its mouth of coins shut.
(account closed for weather.)
counts by tongue.
seed-dyed nickels of moon, unsent.
(knee high hmmmm.)

stream: not a line but a seam,
running a hem (through root and rumor),
thread pulled long / breath pulled l o n g e r —
remembers your name—l(oos)e—remembers—lets—

bank: breeze making change in the cattails,
crosses out vowels heedfully.
spring swallows (& birds) at the bee tract
Woodfaller is here, cracked—
wringing his laundry.

—inventory on person—
a shore in a pocket (folded)
a compass that agrees

ocean: no edge to sign over.
choir of shoulders singing one bluegreen answer,
(ain’t no such thing as a bad question).

pond → leans
lake → leans and leans
stream → leans & moving / moves while leaning
dented Woodfaller winds the last rag dry—
—hangs on a reed, lets drip.

draws breath—
holds—
almost