A Woman in the Sun

The shed behind the barn behind the red cottage I wait

for her in the fescue grass the rye I hear it grow over me

Wait for my friends in the distance on fire their full heads

of rust (I love how the clothing drips off them I hear myself say)

If the beekeeper doesn’ t come chasing behind with a hatchet

I’ ll wait behind Cobb’ s barn watching the distant houses

She will come down this road my shadow is paving for her

a stalk of honey and the rye grass grows from her arms

(She was raised in these hills looking down on Elk Creek)

and behind her the bluegrass it’ s reaching to touch her ankle