Drawn lines; or drainage ditch

your pencil runs down the page
marking the journal for removal

a wide angle X

but drawn like a seat belt strap
pulled over the eyes

there were none

they go

there were none
                          without two lanes

not a car drives by
built like a trash truck
to pick up the razors
left rusty in
drainage gutters
cemented into street

not a hand turns
in any aspect ratio

not a mouth mimes
where'd it go

Falls List

far end of 220
north of covington
deep pool blue waters
cascade 80 feet
scramble down boulders
afternoon early spring sun
mist off hollow cave soaking rock
fish undercurrent at feet
cars around the bend above
eyes on the overlook
plunge in from seeing rock
six foot leap scrape bottom
push up toward the surface

The Ed Garvey Shelter 1100'

.4 miles to mountain spring
down switchbacks
lined with wild raspberry bushes
muddy trails,
slick rocks,
raised tree roots;

sun glints and lights
through canopy,
spring runs,
cool, cold, deep,
ancient,

quenches thirst
of those
unknown thousands,

hiker
wanderer
whiteblazer
blueblazer
northbounder
southbounder

tank up.

AT Poems III

I Dreamt of a Lake

if virginia were a lake
its depth would be waist deep
brown opaque waters
rolling waves and easy tides
it would be easy to get lost
to wander to swim out too far
there the lake or ocean or body
of water virginia would toss
and vomit up itself, reaching for
your head with menacing swells,
only to whimper and crest you gently
back to shore, back to maryland,
my maryland, back to ivory towers,
back to balmy southern air.