I am black br therefore I rule br all things aquiver br in the ruby dark br I am long and lengthy br therefore I hunt br like thread follows limb br I am cold br therefore unseen br like rain goes under tin br I am still br therefore they come to me br those the night appoints br I am dry br with perfect mercy br swift as the bent twig br I have not the wide br heart’s void br of pity br Mine is hungry br with blood br until I am a rosary br of birds br a weekly br calendar br of mice br The man with boots br who shuns me br needs me br The orchard woman who br busts me with her rake br has me to thank br But that is all br by day br the soggy, senseless, farming br day br when children br find me and tame br my coils to glide br beneath their arms br I think they hear br their dreams br and let me go to br dandelions br black wherefore br I rulebr br Edward Wright Hailebr br