THE HILL POOL

A boy here alone I remember
The earth flash clear to the air
From a mouth, a reed fringed pool
And the sky’s self sealing all.

Climbing each threw at that face
The hill’s self till the hill at last
Was what it was and the water’s fist
Closed and a heaven missed its place.

Even now, choked, heavy with stone,
I draw to that lip and find the light
A sky-mile still, a tongue of light
And sheer darkness shining alone.

More real than a world’s air the plane
Of light flattens and blinds, a vein
Of sky cupped that I stamp with my feet
Yet spring with the earth greener for it.

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