Yellowstone Canyon

Here is kept
the violent past,
an eternal painting
of that ancient eruption
of jagged rock
that bled molten reds,
earthen ochres,
raw yellows
with time
made ever beautiful
with time
made ever still

Far below
the jade water
roars joyously
ever new
ever moving
singing its frothy freedom
to the canyon floor

Oh can you reach me?
I’m up here
pressed into the crags of rock
deadened now from the pain that was
thirsty for one drop of water
one sign of life

If only something would move

written in 2003