CANTO 34 we watched the month
W
e watched the month leaf outthe first moth shivering on the porch
midges weaving their paths above the field
dots of light in the afternoon sun
then you and I in the tent huddled to be warm
when the tight furls of leaves spread enough
to wave in layers and throw their
shapes on that woven roof so the light fell
like sunlight through water
the marsh hawks called so close
we saw the pair on a branch
harrier cries rising in pitch
they knew us,
flew
low
bouyant to the edge of the woods and out
the new flies circled in the quiet
brown catkins ticked on the tent
till the wind sent them
in a flutter a rush
a sandy rustle
we saw the space around us
the light the cool open flaps
and sifting through the
screen to the floor
where we lay slight drifts of pollen
barely moving air yellow dust shining
everywhere