Papyrus Pantoum

Coyotes surround a buck      staggering in the snow—

under a rising moon, we step      along a ridge of white sand;

sandhill cranes return in low Vs      and land in a cornfield—

in Bolivia, they extract      lithium out of Altiplano salt flats;

under a rising moon,      we step along a ridge of white sand—

“You burn me,”      torn off papyrus wrapped around a corpse;

in Bolivia, they extract lithium      out of altiplano salt flats—

a claret cup cactus flowers      among sandstone rubble;

“You burn me,” torn      off papyrus wrapped around a corpse—

rain makes quicksilver      strikes on the surface of a lake;

a claret cup cactus      flowers among sandstone rubble—

in twilight, we sway      and surge into flame;

rain makes quicksilver strikes      on the surface of a lake—

coyotes surround      a buck staggering in the snow;

in twilight, we sway and surge      into flame—

sandhill cranes return      in low Vs and land in a cornfield.