We poor lonely lost mortals
We poor lame ducks, flippering ourselves
round and round
Making circles in the dark green pond

I’m sorry for what Loosed
from my bow
long bent without cause
long drawn without aim
long ready, lacking friendship

We’re sorry for the strange crimes
twisting winding tunneling
beneath the rigid crumbly clay
Sorry for the mysteries
we turned our backs on.

God, how little we mortals know!
God, how short we mortals see!
God, how long we mortals live!
I can’t straighten this out
I can’t stand up straight enough
within my shadow-heavy bodysuit

AMW/BW