from The Fraternity of Oblivion (Timberline Press 2008)

Through mirrored,
dark sunglasses
he sees the stars
clustered in the fraternity

of oblivion.
He lies beside his brethren
in the open air,
the night air of moonlight

and the breath of sleeping crows.
His body still trembles
with the hushed terror
of the vow.

In the freezing chrome
of Harleys,
millions of stars burn bright,
ceremonial candles.