once
deep in green bamboo
the swaying stalks
thick with delicate leaves
joined their lofty spires
high above our heads
conflicting sun
shattering its urgency
into blinding streamers
tendriling down
torquing between the wind
swayed canopy
and you disappeared
turned onto another path
as I stood transfixed
looking up
filled with vertigo
surrounded by the sound of
rustling
bound in tethers of darkness
woven to light
strangely suspended
inexplicably hung
and
again and again
repeated your name in silence…
until
in a thrall of sudden resolve
as if for the first time
I spoke it aloud
called it forth
from deep confusion
listened as it rose
from a place within
I had not known
