Storm King



Fire on the mountain,

omens abound.

General, you were ever

eloquent.



Justice on the bier,

the thick shadow

of the gnarled tree's

thirsty branch



like a black artery exposed

upon the cold expanse

of the dry

stone table.



The hammer wind

pulls dark

red smoke

off the ember summit.



The coydogs

yowling somewhere distant -

beyond that,

not a soul around