Clary

Clary

Clary

Her cart like a dugout canoe.
 
 
Had been an oak trunk.
 
 
Cut young.    Fire-scoured.
 
 
What was bark what was heartwood :   P u r e   C h a r - H o l e
 
 
Adze-hacked and gouged.
 
 
Ever after (never not) wheeling hollow there behind her.
 
 
Up the hill toward Bennett Yard; down through Eight-Mile,
   the Narrows.
 
 
C o m e s   C l a r y   b y   h e r e   n o w
 
 
Body bent past bent.          Intent upon horizon and carry.
 
 
Her null eye long since gone isinglassy, opal.
 
 
—The potent (brimming, fluent) one looks brown.
 
 
C o u r s e s   C l a r y   s u r e   a s   b a y o u   t h r o u g h   h e r e  n o w
 
 
Bearing (and borne ahead by) hull and hold behind her.
 
 
Plies the dark.
 
 
Whole nights most nights along the overpass over Accabee.
 
 
C r o s s e s   C l a r y   b l e s s   h e r   b a r r o w   u p   t h e r e   n o w
 
 
Pausing and voweling there—   the place where the girl fell.
 
 
(                  )
 
 
Afterwhile passing.
 
 
Comes her cart like a whole-note held.