From Ride Backwards on Dragon, published by Leaf Press in 2007 and shortlisted for the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award in 2008.

When the winds came, we lashed ourselves

 to fir trees because we knew

 what they were and where they stood. 

‍

 When the waters rose, we packed sandbags

 faster than jack rabbits to save the bankrupt

 farm. 

‍

 When the thundering maw of canyon fire

 clawed the flesh off our bones,

 we encased our charred skeletons in asbestos

 coffins with plexiglas lids

 so we wouldn’t miss anything.

‍

 We wanted it

 all. Kept all we could. We’re still waiting

 for that one transcendent

 moment, waiting

 for you to show us the magic, the secret, the reason

 for hanging on.

‍