consider for a moment the key br consider the handle br br I cannot tell anymore when br a door opens or when it closes br all I hear is a beckoning br from the other side br br blues coming from our roots br while at night I dream br of bonfires and ghosts of men br laden with irreconcilable tombstones br names of archangels emblazoned br behind a bird of flames br br it is only a short walk br to another room and br I can see the river water rising br crystal in your incomparable arms and legs br your fingertips turning from fiery spindles br into satin tendrils cloaking me br in the soft confidence of a lover's kiss br br the sun behind me is like a fire br tiny flames survive in the river's ripples br br I say something to God br he's listening but br I hear no answer br br so I ask the river br and God answers br br in the windfall of thunder and br the coruscation of lightning br I stand drenched br br alone br br I am Aristophanes br holding a sheaf of new layers shaking br like a weak-kneed lamb searching br for my lost half br br and there you are writing br grocery lists on the bottom of your shoes br asking me to take a walk br in a cemetery with you br and your dog br br we walk br God follows br we talk br God listens and br as the walled road narrows br we melt together br and become onebr br Robert Combsbr br