Valley of Slag
Alder Gulch (Adobetown), Montana, 11 October 2004
Over wagon ruts combing golden grain
Behold the byproducts of aspiration in
Miles of lumbering rocks in couplets and
Picked over piles of sub-astral stone
Magpies peck at crimson carrion
I know their discarded dreams are the
Tentacles of speculation laid to rest
Like hot oven loaves left to cool
Tonight we build pyres of flaming sticks
Atop these sidetracked hillocks of hope
So that the longing arms of better lives
Coax our fire to burn long into daybreak