everything that’s washed ashore
becomes fit fodder, just fine to build
the frozen flame
the retroflective face
when passions run deeper than grace
sometimes a tale told
in the dawn tide of a single truth
or such a torrent down
in a single tear
when wanting runs hotter than fear
everything that’s lost before
like past prescriptions newly filled
a test of will
but habit is denser
so fine a new foil still can fail the fencer
sometimes elemental powers
prescribe a pace in the force of nature
not fail to notice
bow down a greeting
and none of this escapes our meeting
every single sometimes lovely thing
become, remain—drop from decay
into the final frame
to blossom now with multifoliate blame
stride forth from shadow, animate in flame
James Oliver Wright © 2011
