How The Land Lies
The land
lies
to the north.
The land
lies
to the south.
The land
lies
to the east.
The sea
lies
to the west.
How does the land lie,
when it repels
all borders? When belief
beggars it?
When the chipped lips
of the diplomats discuss
the subject of old buffers?
The sand stammers.
Vengeance is a mine.
Every bulletin has a bullet in.
The ground is pounding
like a busted heart.
Look out for the lie of the land.
The flies feed
on the dead, on the treacherous,
on the bland latitudes and platitudes
of the land.
