Lily of the Nile

I waited for the rain 
as dawn stalked the window
myself
parched earth
supplicated with the aster
dizzy in drought
& thought of sulphur
flowers bulging with unforgiving sun
fiery unpenitent
yet they're lilies of sorts
like my wish for the improvident
my soul
a contrary bloom
so out of season
& when the clouds finally burst
staggering the garden
I too danced
yes, I danced
as one of them
from whose sacred stem
tears are joy
whose salute
comes as I speak, a farewell 

Golden hook

Each day there is more to see
now the leaves have
surrendered 
their stunning beauty
for ash
crushed underfoot 
a new ending
for the story I love

This is how it is
do not imagine death
wears a piebald coat
& plucks his fruit
with a golden hook
giddy & serious
at the solemn moment
an altar boy at prayer

& here, the many threads
of autumn spiders
flutter in sudden light
broken, lost
tentatively twining
as they cross 
to forbidden colonies
solo
with no passenger