left the light
for someone there –
halfway down the meadow
glowed the path was
burned into the night

precious truth
of welcome here –
none the words for better
folded now as ribbon
to the vest

keep the warmth
of passions gone –
and bloodless autumn skies
frosted silhouette
above the grave

lay me down
the coming back –
stay the dark til faded
slip into my shadows
as the light

cherokee
and keetoowah –
barefoot maiden wakens
carved her dreams
within each
slanted verse

spin to yarn
these flutters of
mysteries becoming
sacrificed
to flame –
wing’ed reckoning