Far back when I went zig-zagging br through tamarack pastures br you were my genius, you br my cast-iron Viking, my helmed br lion-heart king in prison. br Years later now you're young br br my fierce half-brother, staring br down from that simplified west br your breast open, your belt dragged down br by an oldfashioned thing, a sword br the last bravado you won't give over br though it weighs you sown as you stride br br and the stars in it are dim br and maybe have stopped burning. br But you burn, and I know it; br as I throw back my head to take you in br an old transfusion happens again: br divine astronomy is nothing to it. br br Indoors I bruise and blunder, br break faith, leave ill enough br alone, a dead child born in the dark. br Night cracks up over the chimney, br pieces of time, frozen geodes br come showering down in the grate. br br A man reaches behind my eyes br and finds them empty br a woman's head turns away br from my head in the mirror br children are dying my death br and eating crumbs of my life. br br Pity is not your forte. br Calmly you ache up there br pinned aloft in your crow's nest, br my speechless pirate! br You take it all for granted br and when I look you back br br it's with a starlike eye br shooting its cold and egotistical spear br where it can so least damage. br Breathe deep! No hurt, no pardon br out here in the cold with you br you with your back to the wall.