elemental villanelle
today the door is shut to all
the ghosts and half-remembered dreams
that, restless, stir like oceans in the hall
I cut and cure my words until
they cover distances as great birds’ screams;
today the door is shut to all.
my empire rises, others fall
with switches thrown upon machines,
that restless stir like oceans in the hall:
the percolating brew, the drawl
of voices radiating and unseen
—today the door is shut to all
o! let the waves blow tall
and sirens sing to kings and queens
that restless stir like oceans from their halls
and let her, on the front porch, when she calls,
drop off her bags and thoughts of what it means;
today the door is shut to all
that restless stir, like oceans in the hall
