Today

t rasa

At dawn I awakened
and covered the ground
like flood water,
looking under boulders,
behind clouds,
into fine sand
smoothed by bullets
and ice.

Noon, I wondered
at chimps thrashing brush,
bombs falling on hooches.
Poked about for old tusk,
shed antler,
agatized bone.
Swam in ink dried yesterday
at Melikhova.

This evening, smowmelt and wind
expose winterkill.
Between stiff limbs and death-grins,
larkspur and paintbrush
push from new loam.
I search for wheatgrass, morel,
scratch for placer and beryl.

Tonight, I will sleep.