Swan Boats, and: Rubaiyat

SWAN BOATS

Zayanderud, which translates to "The River of Life," is the largest river of the Iranian Plateau.

Mute like the reflections they have lostor like the real birds they themselves reflect,a flock of boats brood over the mud-crackedscript of the riverbed. No Pentecostdecodes the silent babel of this tonguewhose ramifying Kufic chokes the land.The faceless surface breaks in surfs of sand.Time out of mind, this was our turquoise blue

mind out of time, watching white thoughts come, goacross a mirror which, unchanged by them,itself was change and could reverse the downwardwish of light, the headlong wash of stoneskipped on its current. Nothing is the same.When the swans break, it won't be into song.

RUBAIYAT

I shake sand from the pages of my book.As you change out of your trunks, I try to look            away. Last night the sheets were stiff, crinklyas paper, sand inside each crease and nook.

________

We strip and plunge into the phosphorescenceof blooming plankton. Your naked body glistens            in the bitter brine we will pass back and forthbetween our lips tonight as friendship lessens.

________

Another day we're locked inside as rainneedles the surface of the sea again.            You dunk a graham cracker in your teatoo long, then pour the thin sludge down the drain.

________

It was too late. You slapped a mosquito deadon my neck. Nights afterward, turning in bed,            the sheets are rough. I try to fight the urgeto scratch. I shut my eyes. You're in my head.