I walk on the rocky edges
of my life
my feet soften them

I discover new planets
in my body
habitat of joy and pain

I go now more often
to the darkness
just before the giant
red suns of my heart
splinter out
with their poems

Where my fear
touches my love
new life springs
first cells, than fins
than fur
and teeth
and that pounding sound
the hum of the cities
in my mind

I walk on the soft edges
of my life
I find new words
on my tongue
I give them to you
now
this very moment

august 2006
berkeley