Nightsun

D. Nurkse

At Rio Seco

1
As we undressed
we became unknown.

2
All the power we stole from each other
we would give to the mind-- to a picture
we drew in fire, with the utmost care,
shading in each detail: mole
under the nipple, sideways glance,
sleeper's faint down-turning smile.

3
We were amazed at that marriage
we were able to conjure
just from the body,
like a hat from a rabbit.

4
Lover on top of loved one-
not as simple as it seemed.
The smell of crushed mint
overwhelmed us.
We had magic powers,
but just in the past.

5
All night the cats
chased a counter-cat
and the olive branches swayed
as if someone just left.

6
We had wanted to kill ourselves
because we were complicit in the war
but it was a mistranslation,
actually we were enchanted
by sex like starlight
touching us at the threshold of old age.

7
Perhaps it was prisoners
who built our stone house
during the wars of Abu-l-Qasim.

8
Thatched roof busy with crickets,
cobble yard, two moldy rooms,
hotplate, wicker bed.

8
The trees of Arias had no names
in Spanish or Arabic-
just puffs of green air.

their broad dusty leaves
bobbed and sailed north-

flickers skimmed the surface
hunting for a seam
between Mars and its reflection.

8
At dawn the sparrows bickered
desperate to solve
the problem of the waterfall

9
and the river held us like a mind
that makes all things unknown.