A Visitor from Beyond

I turn the faucet off,

fold the dish towel,

you rush in—

white fire, here.

My breath stutters,

heart flutters, sputters, gutters,

electric grief.

again.

*

In here,

in a wolve’s cage,

you laugh raucous,

crook jaw, mischievous,

in here,

you joy this old

kitchen with bread

from the dead.

*

Your love of trees,

of mountains,

of banjos, pack mules,

made it easy

to decide—

scatter your ashes

in a river

where the salmon run.