I Smell the Dirt All Around Me and Above

Let go and see where falling takes you. HereI’m watching you chop carrots and there’s allthese gold coins piling up beneath your fingers.You’re making me feel rich. I’m afraid to gooutside because then I will feel wet. Thusthe struggle on this winter morning. I wokewith Carlsbad Caverns in my skull but I’mtrying to move on. I’ve been to Mammothbut never Carlsbad. I wrote a report on itin sixth grade so I still own it inside.I can go there when the wind blows.One thing you don’t get deep inside a caveis a blizzard. The wax or ceramic banditswouldn’t like it. Yes, the reference toa cathedral. Yes, the antique helmetswith white fire for light. How ropes helpkeep us alive. That almost imperceptiblethread into the darkness. Once I crossedbetween tight rock walls—a long dropand dark water beneath—duck-walkingmy feet to either side, suspended thanks tonothing but the pressure of myself pushingoutward. When someone loves me enoughto send a communication these daysI write or telephone right back.