Egrets haranguing in shallow water
kingfishers nesting in forest reeds
a seagull's shrill note lost over fields
in a dreamlike swoon

Soon the scarlet and orange
silver and gold
now setting fired to the heavens
will change to quiet twilight hues

the aftermath screech of cicadas
echoes in my head
when reptilian dark gnarls the brain

The Black Idol entwined with garlands of skull
gleams malignantly

Her thirst
                the blood of sacrifice

  © 1999