On rusty bikes we pedal the road by the sea
Ocean left / meadow right
(Daughter a lilac streak in the dusk)
Loom loam island rush
The smell of wild thyme
These herbs: Sea lavender white hibiscus rosehip
Heather cattail scrub sage
Last evening five deer
Come to sup on salty seaside grass: Such succulent dining!
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Three young bucks, a doe,
White-spotted fawn still spindly – –
Daughter a lilac streak in the dusk
We biked to the crest, in the evening’s cool relief.
Inhaled the meadow tea: Grass, mint, rosemary
this nerve, this island pungency
Bike field fog sea
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One of the bucks stalked us:
Strode his slender, fine-turned limb with its hoof
Inhaled our breath in the evening’s cool
Crack & roar of rising tide
Rocks mussels waves mess ≈≈≈
All to my right sweet lilac green the girl
Rumble Crash off to the left Thick, white, wet fog
Ahead … behind
What did he mean to impart to us, antlers spread to the sky?
Stared me straight in the eye. His hoof raised,
he stomped, snorted as if he would lunge ––
to chasten the girl at my side & me?
The smell of wild thyme.