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Lightning Bugs
- Southern Illinois University Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
LightningBugs Ourhomecontinentsmaybe anoceanapart,butonwarmnights whenIwatchtheselivingembersflash theirshorthandmessage,Iknow thelightofdeadanddistantstars shootsthroughbothourgeographies. Despitedichotomies— myNorthernpines,yourleguminous acacias,mydriftingfog,your sun,implacable—theshapesare constant,theoutwardmanifesting theinward.Andwhatacomposite ofmeander,twist,andsphereweare, mypeavinewrappingitshelixcoil toyourfloretswhichstrainlike clovertowardthehoneyedcell. So,tellmeagainhowyouwilllieatlast separate,discreteaseachgrainofsand thatblowsacrossthefaceofOzymandias, andIwilltellyouhowtheridges ofashellpresshomeitssignature, thespiraledarcofimprintnot justanencounterbutmemory thatliesdeepinthevastspace ofeachatom—yourhandpressing thesmallofmybacktoyou,thenape ofmyneckandcoilofmyhaircupped toyourotherpalmasstarswinkout andthesearchingsymmetriesofourbodies believethatthis,thisistheonlyrevenge. ...