She lights a cigarette. Where she could have found a kingdom she scatters ashes. On the sand the footprints end at a jade dress, hair undulant as a jellyfish. The earth brings itself forth in my lips' thirst, undulating prairie in the stinging of my eyes. The woman I loved closing her eyes has bid me farewell.
Cool winter descends on the desert.
Glancing down at the page, I look for the dot that will show me your face. My father returns to the past by way of words. Scarred like a tree, at his step leaves fall, his shadow falls with every gust of wind. Once the family would gather, sun transforming roofs and walls, the light in the dining room sweet to taste, and in a dance of hands the dominoes revolved, my father and the rest of us awaiting our destiny. I see in his eyes a heart that knows farewells, I see his hands that have touched only what time has touched, I see myself come forth from him and return, carrying this heart.