One eye open one eye closed straining to see
imaginary tree heads supported by tangible trunks
roots ripple through brown earth skin
silent while they stand cracking with age and bask
in the heat of a cosmic bonfire's leaping flames
both eyes open, trees become a dancer supple as a swan
Weary of the dance, a final performance, swan
song leaving the audience unable to see
a golden dying bird burning to ash in its own flames
journey to transformation without ship or steamer trunks
has a lifetime of glory to reflect and bask
while brittle bones shrink and crack under loose skin
Leaving behind first the egg and then the skin,
the cobra sways in trance, body curved like a swan
that cranes its neck to see a rippling reflection and bask
in arrogance, floating near lakeshore it does not see
the two legged predator kneeling hidden between trunks
of maples that in short weeks will appear to be in flames
Repeating sequences, strings of history,
stir dust and rattle drums sounding horns like elephant trunks
traveling north to south nuclear winter outruns the swan
blanketing the Earth leaving no eyes to see
and clouding the sky leaning no bodies to bask
hillside green grows to feed flames
destructive presence of blind rage that cannot see
swallows sweet fuel blackening ground marring skin
returning to ugly duckling, no longer beautiful swan
lonely shepherds sit under pines carving stories in trunks
Bald obesity the man spills out of swimming trunks
near the pool here in summer to bake and bask
waddles to the plank, attempts to swan
dive into open pit engulfed in flames
bubbling blistering he rips from his skin
stands naked and humble for his father to see
Elephants float past swans, belly up, bask
trunks of trees jut from a shallow sea
skin cleansed of sin erupts in holy flames
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