guard this heart
as was your own
for surely once it did
beat within the timbre
of your drum

sewn into the measure
of melodies made one
hidden by the secrets
of the rain

fell asleep
along the way
and rocked
the cowboy home –
rushed beyond the canyons
to the sea

fluted as a lullabye
hummingbird to gull –
floating west
a message to divine

perfumed nights
betrayed the chill –
of catfish salamander
cedars sworn to dance
beside the wind

warmest crush
of honeybees
swarm above the waves –
strained into the whisper
was told of you
and me