African Evenings

Two magic fish
breaking the surface so silver and gray
A murky liquid smoke
In the lake

of a volcano

Sky of orange sands
Against the black hole they
climbed down into—and down
-ward

His tongue is like a bird—her mouth
is like a nest
Two miracles of mudd, chocolat dolphins,
One eternal grace/Our food
for the gods
Her head is the smooth black velvet eggshell
His soul…the Sperm Whale’s lava

for they never want to be…apart

These two drumbeats…in the volcanic heart
Where time is timeless

And getting late