overhead the tango dancers whirl
and sunny songs play backwards
through your memory
as she smiles at you
and can you be faulted? for she has complaints
but it is all you can do
to sit still
for the sky is pouring
pouring
pouring
down into you

the energy the moment
some divinity
releases you
and you will die
this is death
the recognition has
freed you
fearless now
you are the afterlife
suns set and suns rise
but worship the god
of sun, for you
it is all
made
for you the moment
is made

sleep long
into the afternoon
laugh and kiss
and watch the planes
in the sky
for you
the moment
is made

watch the sun
streaming in
and merlot
and quiet looks
at a table for two
italy
in the cafe open
to the sea

and death is this moment
death is now
death is freedom
for we
survived
on to the afterlife
and now we
you, and i
are the incarnation of sun
and reduced to nothing
at last,
free,
pleasing no one
feeling the light
and the trees
interplay
on our eyelashes

sleep
long into the afternoon
i am
and i am
and i am
and i am not

sylvan
voce
be the shadow
under the sun
be the quiet among the reeds
be a garden
within and without me --
love, in the daydream of parrish
  love the sea like homer
be with me
  be as forever
in this moment
be as nothing --
the desert's death
and rebirth
and sun.

 - connelly barnes 2010/03