Devil’s Lake

This incarnation: a lungful of air

released off the inundated island; cortex

only half-aware of the body’s pulse, its knots,

that we change, there’ll be rot, return—

animated dander in the artificial

light; turbulent water with agency;

a dim comet’s return; and &

and; one heedless lunge for loam

or fire—intake of, as, ah, sporadic

training, knock, pink,

pink, memory-erasure, I wipe

my face, he, crib, him, writing pod, brindle.