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