Year of the Cardinal's Song (VII)

Moving along the muted shore Osage oranges
      blistering in the waters

Above starlings staving in plays of elation
     theatrical
One thousand & one breaths shot in all directions
     including the ground

The Scioto River imitating always the main artery
sweeping within me a deliverable autumn
My shadow a tethering of apologies
     in the shape of koj daim di ncauj

Stone blue & ill weathering

From the belly of the waters
     the gathering of a single catfish pouting
with leaves in tow

Back above vultures parading in yards
     & yards of gray sky
          Your drowsy organs
               what's left of you
          immured in this river
A feed so clandestine the talons come out
     on time to love you & regularly

The means of this season heralded
by trees in ribbed precision

I am sorry brother
     Again I cannot tell if you're listening


- Khaty Xiong (from COUNTERCLOCK)

***