measure the hours with what
you can hold in your hands; a veil
of leaves; dust; other shadows.
wait for morning. wait, but
count them and measure
the tenor of each as they fall
against one another, a litter
of soft blind creatures. count them
by what you can cup
in your hands: water welling
from palms; the shape
breath makes; the shape
of the absence of breath.
measure the hours; blue especially;
especially blue; how the world
circles its bed three times
then goes to sleep.
