These Makeshift Winds

 
Like drifting dust from sandal strides  
That scatters on these makeshift winds.  
Like horsehead moons in Harlem nights,  
That pass in Spanish rifle smoke.  
 
Like favored dogs in graveyards lie,  
And breakfast plums in kitchen notes,  
So have all waves on captive shores,  
Spent crashing wrath then find retreat.  
 
Here in the heat of solstice sun,  
That even island palms disburse,  
Like Muse, will burn in sight and sound  
The words that are for this day sent.  
  
Let rise and fall the voice’s notes,  
In breath and love, in want and life,  
Let every thought, like cloud shape seen,  
Transform in every moment new.  
 
You there, in mind’s eye ever placed  
As goddess tiger, in child’s run,  
As shamisen in plucking song,  
As lover’s press in churning night.  
 
So may these words, like crashing wave,  
Display this moment’s perfect psalm:  
Release’s cry in whispered breaths,  
Eternity at love’s express.