Devil’s Lake

Feathers swarm the orchard stone

creek bed and highway lights awash

bony chaff wrapped in fire

hold on hell the goddamn water

in the

cottonwoods they were picking

mud tobacco ever dumb the twisted

cigarettethe corner of his jaw

a match it means okay the dark

carried under

and turned back.

To get

it back I sent you up that cut

of where it came from.

Go on

ahead

northern ledge of daylight

dirt commenced a throwing motion where

all we walked over and picked bare

got started up by god

the carbine thigh the din

of houses the pistol shower pounding.First light

only light.

We’re coming.