Lake Lynn, 1854

feverish furtive flight
in the watercolor pre-dawn impressionist mist
shifts misery swirls

concealing, revealing
sounds echo unmoored, unending, untraceable –
he hopes
huddled fetal free
escapism cloaked in smoke like dope exhaled
foxhole fugitive from the rope
feet pound pavement, pursuit confused, lost the scent over
running water frozen time skitter jitterbug the line

watch the needle dance over taut drum
dark ink dark skin barcoded

breathe mists occluding air fog twines fingers nappy hair

Hiding, providing
excuses embraces the erasures of races

records set stern as faces
serious like whip crack heart attack
fear the dog that’s never spared the lash

hobbled feral fierce
pain brewed stewed fermented decanted devoured
fires rage banked brown eyes
coals turn to wildfire
grow grumble ancient hunger
wet snout sniffs mosaic patterns through space and time
follow fear pheromones dark rich heady scent

manacles clink shiver shrink away
blood etched soul stained


naked back map
rivers of memory scar velvet perfection
princely skin ridges of punishment scourge
kindnesses reward




resting hoping
praying with closed eyes. dawn dreamed oracle

ancient branches spread
overhead spiderweb barren refuge
root throne self-made king


searching sniffing
snuffle whimper pant point rumble strain reach
chain tense leash slip
release

hoarse brays rend ears
years whip rends regal rags

bared coated salivating anticipation, hunts consummation

predator prey like two old friends meet again

teeth nails hair muscle wrestle paws hands

freedom instinct survival driver
brown coat black skin bruise throat eyes roll
bare breast. fangs leap.

jaws caught.
torn hands re-ripped life re-wrote
neck turns
eyes catch
lock
snap

back to collared kindness collared greens in cellar kitchens
brothers in servitude, sharing scraps of scraps
equally hungry, equally desperate

cold dawn remains
weeping runaway
weary rheumy eyes blink
frothy lips quiver. breath departs rattle leaves
fall breeze chills
goose prickles pickles black down
howl from afar
un-hung head drops. heels to hie
ever northward
through the mists