Lank tears of recognition, purgation,

repetition. Pocketful of mixed seeds

fondled and forgotten. Warm-welcomed weeds

awaken in the cleft as sidewalks rise

and fall and rise atop a prodding toe.

Shoulder to restive shoulder, black cement

cobbles are unloosed from their settlement,

sprinkler water moves in great black veins through

fine dust. Tears run as far as the jaw line,

sympathy for the hummingbird spent, eyes

closed so fully that it seems without them,

touched for the sake of later relation.

Follows pepless step, taproot testing brine;

another puddle glances the dank hem.