future amaranth

in an accident of memory, I saw the future
amaranth: lush burgundy, velveteen saffron, saw the peacock
green of your suit, the gloss of red patent shoes

in an accident of certainty, I ran right up to edge
of the rock and dove: glacial lake, deep and cold
lake in summer, lake of sky, ten thousand,
twelve thousand, thirteen—

now winter, hunted and snowbound. I thought this
was a place that I was safe from. I thought space
was held back by gravity but it surrounds us.

two animals pressed against each other won’t eat
each other—better to die warm and together.

               something holy in this

absence of benevolence, each body bidding
the other: just stay here
with me in the dark.

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