PATHS AND THINGSCAPE


Those who went ahead
of us in the forest
bent the early trees
so that they grew to signals:

the trail was not
among the trees but
the trees

and there are some who have dreams
of birds flying in the shapes
of letters; the sky's
codes:
      and dream also
the significance of numbers (count
petals of certain flowers)

      In the morning I advance
      through the doorway the sun
      on the bark, the inter-
      twisted branches, here
      a blue movement in the leaves, dispersed
      calls/ no trails; rocks
      and grey tufts of moss

            The petals of the fire-
            weed fall where they fall

            I am watched like an invader
            who knows hostility but
            not where

            The day shrinks back from me

      When will be
      that union and each
      thing (bits
      of surface broken by my foot
      step) will without moving move
      around me
      into its place