Tar Beach

Fitful swampage of messy clouds you
              possibly walk thru on your way?
rain, radiation, Pacific currents
“Thus did I assume the vestments”
                                                (air, water, fire)

                              their flowers kiss death
              on the eyelids
                                                swamped with tears

You were part of a plan
                              (spring, summer, fall)
that place you can go to
                                                or return from

“I bring you greetings from the islands―
Hawaii, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, California, Africa”

just follow these damp footsteps
              (wings too heavy to be of much use)