from The Dogs

But the moths find you, phantom.

       & the crackle
       of the javelinas
       in the brush

       old litany
       defiled the doorling
       stood canon toting

So, you know the ground here? Where else 
is new or to you called unknown:

       gumtree tipping
       onto the marsh 
       meadow's shoreline

The apology wends off as smoke ground to 
gravel. So you were here alright, coughing 
on the live tape:

       a canoe's 
       mystery 
       hurt by its name

Fall back with your hands before or behind 
you just so.

Copyright © 2010 by Joshua Marie Wilkinson. Reprinted with permission of the author.