His task to watch an hourglass wash itself, br A ritual cleansing that leaves him bare, br Though no purification's new enough br To nullify the need for such labor-- br br Prior soon to repeat, platonic clone, br He should have practiced that horizon br Vocation, camouflage, opening his br Arms wide the better to hide. But of course br br If the flesh is fire, bones are the kindling: br Still there but aching to be unbelied br By the lover, unbellied as breaths held br Until all the minutes fall to the wrong br br End of the hour and find his final br Efforts,ve faded, dated as (or like) a sundial.