the fossil record

Walking

( for Mailena)

He thought he had lost all contact, or

at least sense of contact, with nature,

and quoted, in poorly remembered

German translated  “How tired I  am...”

thinking everybody remembers this

sloping plain, everyone knows this

approach and passing of stormcloud.

Say it once more in German, she says.

The neon orange jumpsuit of metaphor

wandered in the glowing field,  and jokes

of violence were made at its unknowing

expense: how he might crumple  silently

under these as yet forgiving black clouds,

and how the javelina would  feast.

Todd Young