Souljers

The crystals iced over this morning  
their frosted color falling stillborn  
against the wall of refracted light  
opposite the window they occupy  
 
A wave of cloud maintains darkness  
intercepts the sun’s eastern trajectory  
war-drums pound dense branches    
a metronome of droplet signature  
 
The iron bed slightly vibrates dust  
across the hardwoods, oil permeates  
the ozone layer of the room, thunder  
kicks the mountain base and beyond  
 
Debris staggers over the roof, catches  
against laden gutters, swings listlessly  
cumulous puffer fish defend against  
a school of dawn jumping the forest  
 
I stretch, content in cancelled hikes  
leaving room to rest these aged bones  
pen memoirs of experience while fresh  
glance toward your outline beside me  
 
Your breathing is deep and regulated  
olive skin warm under the blanket  
Native hair splayed over the pillow  
your lidded eyes darting in REM  
 
I rise so as not to disturb your dream  
 
The view is dense and obscured  
condensation curls from my mouth  
mingles into its foggy surroundings  
my pen scratching words as a hen  
rooting seed across the porch  
 
I lose track of time, hands numbed  
become lost in contemplation until  
warmth pulls me into itself from behind  
your arms folding me in a heavy blanket  
before retreating to a steaming kettle  
 
When a storm sheds its old skin  
for nature's survival, dark regalia  
is guaranteed to purge polluted alveoli  
wash clean the intricate organics  
for a Sourced generation of being  
 
We are the tribe of Elders, wooded  
comfort from the deserts, undercurrents  
of acceptance through painful lessons  
bonfires against the rocks of sirens  
Stray Souljers in kindred communion  
    
You place hot tea between my hands  
part my lips with your warm tongue  
without words, we heed the unspoken  
instinctively ancient as Truth in blood  
 
Blood is the Life regenerating within us  
solidifies our future existence after death  
recognition we're grateful for in silence  
look beyond promises to what remains  
 
witness peace born of an erratic wind  
watch God play as a child in the rain  
~
 
for Atohi
a blanket in the cold