Man like Sun

Randall Swingler

Stretching forth to clouds, mountains, and a land
Sleep-locked, lifting the heavy leaves of death,
Man like sun arises, dark through days
His power condensing. Simpler than grass his breath
Hung first at lips, diaphanous. The ways
Of the wind distrained his hair. Personal desire
Shaped him. Youth and the summer marriage
Fulfilled the image, that lusts and fears, like fish
Here and there fretting his inconstant nature,
Might fall away. Now beyond the soft barrage
Of time, knows he must turn, his lakes of wishing
Steeped, and feel the protective past, with hands
Of a ghost, recoil from the hard trust of his loins.
For he will pass through the sea, whose creature
Movements beat now like the widening quiver :
Of light through his attestant blood. Will join
Many together in the welding of a new love.