Miriam Sagan

Geology of the High Plains

something burrows
under the house

and two hawks flying parallel
dive towards
some other creature
in the field

a songbird hits the window

and I
make a cup of coffee

I’m worried
I’ve been unkind

a mask in the world
of forms
firelight flickering

this was once a shallow inland sea
(weren’t we all…once)

schist and quartzite
gneissic visible layers

I’ve been unkind
and worse
I’ve failed to fight
on my own behalf

that’s over now.

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