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Aubade with the Moon, Some Bones, and a Word
- Southern Illinois University Press
- Chapter
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62 AubadewiththeMoon,SomeBones,andaWord Halfasleepyousaidinyourdreamyouwereatree andIdisbelieved.Icannotforgivemyselfforthis. ThoughIcanforgivethemoonandthefish thattumbleforthintheirlunardreams. Therewerelightblueeggsinyourbranchesthatglinted withspecksofglassandnorobinsinside,onlybones. Youtookstringandtiedknotsaroundthebones tomakechimesthatwouldclangoutsongs asthoughtheywererainitself. Youdidnotwanttolosethebones,lightandfrail. Youcouldlosethemtotheheavenlybodywithitsfishes.Yousaid thesalmonweretherefortemperance,thoughtheyconfuseme. Theyaremerelymouths.Perhapstheyaremymouth takingyouawayfromthereverieasIhearyourvowels andthinktowakeyou. Themoonwasasilverbutton,yousaid,andthatathread washangingfromit,longandsevere,unraveling intotheMilkyWay.Yousaid“unravel”againandagain asthoughyouwerelearninganewlanguage.“Unravel.” Slowlythenightunravelslikearibbonpulled offabed-sheet.Scarsaremadelikethis—scuffmarks acrosswoodfloors...theorbanditsstring becomesaswirlinthesky,generousrivers fullofsalmonunravelingintotheocean, yourwindchimemadeofbonesspoolsintogalaxiesofsound... 63 Littlesleeper,littlesleeve,I’vebecomecynicalasmanypeople who’vebecometooconsciousofdisgrace.Ifyouinsist thatyouarewoodthenlettreesbecomemoreholythanGod. Ifyouinsistthebonesaremusical,thenlettheirsongstrick themorningwithitsslowwaltzes. Ignorethefishes,fortheyhavenorealloveofthemoon. Ignoremydisbelief,foritinsiststoomuchonkeepingtime andtimewrapsitselfinyourmouthlikealazynewword. Gingerly,gingerly,therearecracksinourwindows andit’storturetoendyourdreamasthesundresses youinvermillion.Stayasleep.Youareatree filledwithgemsinthemoonlight.Stayasleep mylovelyauburnsleeper...mybeautifulburgundywood. ...