And A Man
And a man leaned back, borne
into whatever it was
was receiving him-
air, wind, the cold,
the sun rising red into the smoke-
leaning back and back
bending his knees,
wide-spreading his arms to the morning light
pouring out on one long breath
a strong note
out of the thrusting silence inside
always growing stronger
the sound swelling
past the stunted trees
far over the hard ground
up above the swooping doves
beyond the man
whoever he was, whatever he intended
to escape in the sky,
aloft, alone, and free.