SEARCHING FOR YOUR SHADOW

I TRY TO WASH YOU FROM MY HANDS

TRY ALL THE SOAPS AND ALCOHOL

FOR WEEKS
I HUNTED YOU
AMONG CORN STALKS
AND BEAN STICKS

SUFFERED IN SILENCE
THE AFTERNOON BITE OF FLIES
SEARCHING FOR YOUR SHADOW

WATCHED THE MOVEMENT
OF MIDNIGHT CONSTELLATIONS
WAITING
FOR THE BREAKING OF A STALK
TO CATCH YOU IN MY LIGHT

I PRAYED SOMETIMES
TO KILL YOU

THIS MORNING
WITH YOUR GRAY-BROWN HIDE
TACKED OUT TO DRY
I WOULD TRADE ALL OF THE CORN YOU'VE LEFT
TO WASH YOU FROM MY HANDS

(SEPT/1/1982)
REH