rusty nails in the dirt i pluck them out one by one to push rough heels into soft soil and pat them dry there there upright lipstick peeps through snow crust flat against the wind until frost bursts open a path for roots among the rocks and tall stems escape unbending leathery tongues in arcs to count brown under the weight of the sun as earth turns over to yield up whole palm heavy knobs one by one in yellow dust in winding braid in warm kitchen in steel pot in ceramic bowl in curled fingers i split rusty nails to push smooth hooves into soft soil
July 9, 2021
