Solstice

(after William Carlos Williams)

The river is widening quickly
and time's whale cantaloupe jewel breeds alien.
the cross-eyed Parabolani
are carrying the dead Hypatia
around the internet in their dead language
in their dead dull language of regret

the trees whisper of slim nudities
in their leafless eternal ghettos
of life-giving genius
a wild sun darkens
the crisp insane earth

silence stalks the wretched brain
the birds, the wind, have re-entered their own houses
to celebrate
The shortest day of the year

is veridical
a gate of ivory, and a gate of horn