Clothed in roots and fire what rounds a hard day as if the slow knife pops suddenly an innocent skin a hushed wincing shame of what falls shadow & burning truths a genuine turn of grief cut in a boat untethered does it matter to the far shore the press of a foot Clothed in roots and fire Clothed in roots and fire when the dead are buried & their ghosts sleep in stars the light still bends at the stone & sorrow grinds the price of blooms how she carries the question we cannot bear Clothed in roots and fire Clothed in roots and fire fire © 2008 Richard Lance Williams June 10