Absence in the trees; in the heat and bad light
A turtledove begins despairing loudly, across the way.
Belong with our feelings of two months ago. So this
Is a surprise visit to their wistful presences
When what we'd been wanting was merely to get back.
The oak has thrust a harsh little thicket
Of new twigs into one side, in the other
The oleander has thrust a blossoming tip.
In the bottom, yellowed blooms and dry oak leaves, horny-edged.
The intrusive growth, brush out leaves and dead blooms,
And brim the stone hollow with cold water. Now, near noon,
Absolutely still, it contains a sharp-cut refl ection
Of the oak bough and oleander leaves and blooms
Arching irregularly over it, with the remote blue
Of the August sky fi lling in behind; a summer-crystal.
That I saw for the fi rst time
The legendary event --
Fresh water entering salt;
A creek came out from under
Darkness of pines and fi rs