Heartstone

	
	1.  

	The salt tide ebbs
	leaving behind froth
	that bubbles into sand

	Mountains low along the horizon
	A fog rolls and mutes the rocks
	while waves drape the coast in jet
	rolling drones that pound
	incessant
		
	Each drags the shore to sea
	and returns pebbles shells
	and splinters
	waterlogged and swollen

	Moonbeams pierce the dark
	bathe the coast in rolling silver motes
	and wander across rocks and shadows
	into eyes that stare up from the surf

	A corpse lies on the Viareggio sand
	Sea weeds drape the silhouette
	still mouthing words to the moon


	2. 

	Smoke oozes from the pyre
	crawling across the stars
	coiling moonward
	Bones lie
	cracked and snapped
	dwindling to ash
	A heart seethes among the embers
	scorched
	and black

	The black after the moon sets
	behind the night
		
	The black that scars the horizon
	swallowing ocean and sky
			
	The black between the ends of the earth
	where spirits shiver
	and scurry from world to world
	in search of hosts


	3.  

	Waves roll gibber and drone
	They push the body dredged
	from the ocean depths
	further from the sea
	onto hard packed sand
	Gulls drop to the shale to pick at seaweed
	and the corpse

	A bearded man crests the rise
	riding a roan that picks 
	through the rocks and grass down to sand
	that shifts in the wind
			
	He watches the sun push shadows from the shore
	The horse snorts in the light and sidles
	kicking while the man scans back
	and forth along the strand

	The corpse lies bent over on itself
	dropped from the the moon and withering
	under the sun

	The breakers roar again
	the head lolls from side to side
	and a reefer coat flaps
	open and closed
	Bleached trousers once Nankeen yellow twist
	around legs that end in boots
	weighted with Spezia's water

	The bearded man spurs the horse into a gallop
	that scatters the birds with raucous calls
	drops from the saddle and grabs at the body
	moaning

	Inside the coat he finds a leather cover titled _Lamia_
	the pages of the book blurred
	and unreadable
					
		
	4. 

	Logs smoulder and split
	heat currents blur the dunes
	as columns of smoke weave among the reeds

	Tongues of fire smother the night
	in blood-red shadows
	and whisper the wisdom of the dead

	Frankincense cuts the brine
	The flames flicker green
	answer the low tidal thunder
	and close around the corpse
	rending
	Fires cascade skyward
	Ash plummets around the pyre
	Juices ooze hiss across the coals
	and lash the mourners back
	The heart rages at the center

	Four torches mark compass points
	honor guards that ward
	the corpse the mourners the world
		
	The flames blaze all around
	and return the shore to an early noon
	as the gulls stained red and black
	by blood and ash wind in circles
	above the pyre that eclipses the darkness


	5.

	Riders return
	dragging wagons filled with wood
	They level the grains
	stack logs latticed with kindling and pitch
	then remove the corpse from the cart
	place it atop the pyre

	and wait

	The mourners huddle and cluster
	around the blaze
	They cast long shadows that drift in
	and out of gullies that blend with the smoke

	and darkness


	6.

	Sunset smites the clouds
	etches shadows onto dunes
	turned molten gold

	and ignites the pyre

	Sparks soar the wind to stars
	that wheel like clockwork and burn
	dim as candles that gutter
	then drown in the night

	Bone blood resin and flesh
	drop to the coals
	to ash
	that mingles with the dust and sand
	that blows out across the rollers
	to the sea


	7.

	The mourners disperse
	trailing footprints
	The gulls follow

	One sets cuts a ragged line
	a right foot drug through the dunes toward Greece
	and Missolonghi