Tim Lilburn

1950 / Regina

Orphic Hymn

It salmons from leagues of leafmulch

and wrings to the door.

Oak leaf shadow craters its spine range and neck

as if it walked between being's lit breasts and the screen.

It's got caught, opened in its antlers, the wood covered 16th century book

that works out I am sick.

I hold this up to what I am doing, lying on the divan, haven't pissed

or shit in days, infection's horse's rider lashes back and forth

with his black flag. Two winter stars with dessert plate heads

two months ago were nailed at either edge of my groin.

I've been pensioned a shield of bees

below my chin, under earliest skin, a bridge, a sleeve of industry.

The MRI tech asked if I like country or classical.

The dogwood tree blooms in the full window a rising whine.

The temperature of this settles in like sediment that's already stone.

A knife waits, girlish, down the hill, flipping over, over,

small fish flash at the bottom of that boat, convinced, crossing

and uncrossing its legs.
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