ARRIVED AT

we were given a space for stillness after

having known only that blood

not breath was to come in and out of our mouths

but the body is given always

to tear itself anew

from the trees

then what was the tongue for?

worm or grub – muscle to twang

and to taste the ground’s riches

we had eaten what we knew

we had drunk what was known of us

we had not asked for the light of any other sun

but to be overcome with foliage

our eyes dim with sufficiency

and yet the afternoon

expected our arrival

beneath the scalpel of daylight

to know something of ourselves

as distinguishable words

a lake given to wind

given to the glittering reflections

of the sun