-the fire this time-

1.

dart of the world
through the nozzle’s blue-

strike; 

a spark to cause the wound
to fire across the nature  

of its guilt. 

granite surrounds us. 

then a weave in grey 

casts a crooked smoke. 

by water blessed by fire denied— indifferent
pigeons take to flight through mid-

day’s ribs. 

headless deity—

father to arthritic steel.

who now will mend this fishers’ net?

2.

an open morning's wound

reflects across the pool’s 

spent resource.

idle of waters 

patch the street—— sober

inspectors map their

examinations to a fault.

flat fire-

hose exhausts its hydrant's final drop's

drip——

dead, stony- 

turtle.

     

                     Notre Dame de Lourdes burned by fire

                      Fall River, 5/11/82.