Overlooking Koolau II




rocky trail
illuminated
in the moonlight
ascends gradually
to an ancient place
a high windless rubble
winding away below
smooth as a vortex
draining the ocean



the right spot
sitting still as stone
breathing the air
filling the chest
as if on purpose
spherical totality
of jagged rock
curving crater rim
infinite bound sky
weight in the joints
hands on lap
vibrant silence
pierced gently
by the soft jetting
of large birds
black gleaming backs
white underbellies
in the stark light
careening out
over the precipice
soon invisible
abandoning everything
to the sheer plunge
but returning again
each for hours
cutting the air
with curved beak
and windswept wing
each it own sound
its signature
on the ear of night











shift in the moon
yawning of the earth
on it pitched axis
walking through rooms
heaped up lava
gathering places
old men talking 
in quiet tones
throwing bleached bones
into the gravel circle
coming to grips 
with the strangers 
harbored below
their pale skins
covered in frail tapa
cavorting shamelessly
with our daughters
their tiny sharp sticks
and spitting fire-killers
what gods are these
who defile us thus?




falling fitfully
into dreaming
of golden turrets
glinting like night waves
smooth moving walls
breaking into white
hushed lines of repose
unlike the creaking
of these ominous domes
turning and turning
measuring the stars
gauging their distance
cataloging them
for some later vengeance
sometimes emanating
an evil stab of light
rising like a razor
into the soft bosom
of the firmament
whose gentle rebuke
of remembered light
(nebula and galaxy)
drifts to earth 
sadly ineffectual







dream over
awakening
to follow the path
shivering
back to the world
coasting down
half sleeping
to the warm bed
waiting below
in the drum of rain
dimly remembering
that wondrous chill
of full moon and petrel
subdued brilliance
overlooking Koolau