Belief System

 BELIEF SYSTEM

looking into the stream, I am the
stream. fawn with white spots I follow
the dwindling light as it disappears
behind a tree—when I arrive, there is only
me, tearing at the bloodied breast
of a robin. feels one way to discover,
or to be discovered, but to discover myself being
discovered, well…
I wrap my mouth
round the whipping grasses; I worship
what waves. when I pray beneath
the skylight between trees, I pray to the
scene. I can’t subtract myself from the sum
of what exists. two faces become
one as I abolish the distance between myself
& the pond; on the surface of things—
a hinge, swinging me toward
myself. a leaf
floats, red-veined, discarded. who will know me
without these clothes, this skin?
someone, wandering their own oblivion,
will hear my gasping suddenness & know
it to be holy. transformation. the trick of it.