Of Shapes and Shadows

Fishfire flashing and scattering-

fins of glass-sunward along the bay in the glaze of

afternoon

flurries and falls to the sea:

whatever came to the calm of the feeding school silvering

that limpid light

has darkened and gone.

*

Now evening dims:

sky and islands. Hesperus follows the sun, down to the

shell of a house

that is building under the slump of rubble aslant from

bastion Montaña Encantada.

That flint I plucked up from dust of the headland this

afternoon comforts my hand.

* * *

Southward, low over the Sea of Cortés, low on the

afterglow glows Canopus,

yellow on yellow, first of the three of the starway up to

Orion, bright

Rigel brightening, alone awhile. While evening darkens.

I wait. Namer

of nameless stars.

The islands are black,

and the mountain. The hour of the bat. Bellatrix and ©

Betelgeuse and the belt of the kings.