i am reaching for the mouth of the
silty river basin,
where peace falls like petals,
where peace follows the barefoot peasants,
kissing their ankles
sticking like dust
to the pads of their feet.
Follow me, peace,
sweetness within!
This delicate system of bone
and desire
it still flinches
at kindness.
For my soft body to roll
like an eel
through the absence of fear,
for the ache to cool
like a healing burn-
teach me to sit with hope
and not wane
