| Death Returns | | | | asa child-then when you were old enough to make |
| Death returns: it found no resting place; | | | | friends |
| I saw it in flight, last night over the Sierras;beneath | | | | I saw you again.... It was you who worshiped my |
| the last sparks of twilight-! | | | | kindsof sins-then you broke away, but now is the |
| The condor's wings covered death's decent;and glides | | | | time to startcarving new adventures. I have left one |
| now through the air in peace! | | | | sap and root foryou-let there be commerce between |
| Yet death's tail-shadow leaves at dawn, toreturn at | | | | us?" |
| dusk, blue-bellied full-asif it has swallowed a whale | | | | I said back to Him, "Dark eyed, ivory scandaled, |
| (once again). | | | | thereis none like thee, among heaven, earth or hell; |
| The condor, the condor, likened to a fly in a | | | | none withsuch swift feet, like your tongue-dark as |
| webdeath finds no rest, only new flesh, new flesh! | | | | midnightare your shoulders-face of a dead seabed." |
| No: 1949 8-27-2007 | | | | No: 1954, 8-28-2007 |
| Death: | | | | Selected for Death |
| The Roots of the Earth | | | | "No, no! Go from me-!" I left death lately in her |
| Death has a way of saying Hello, when it means | | | | sheath |
| Goodbye! | | | | -oh! Dim it was, for she surrounded me. |
| We beings on earth's surface never really | | | | Thin, are her arms, yet such a grip-they bound |
| disappear-only | | | | me,immoveable, and left me...cloaked, as in a web,a |
| Transform. | | | | cocoon-subtle and swift she was, like magic, in |
| From the moment of death the body will change, | | | | herbinding. |
| you can'thear it, it simply gets foggy-becoming the | | | | "No, no! I cried, "go from me, I have still your |
| roots of the earth. | | | | taste-your scent, your soot, your aye-halt!" |
| No: 1950 8-27-2007 | | | | (But she wouldn't listen.) |
| The Mystery of Life | | | | No: 1952 8-28-2007 |
| How mysteries to be born a human being | | | | Death Passed Me Once |
| -and then to die as one! | | | | (1993) |
| To be able to wash off those old fleshy garmentsof | | | | This man knew the secrets of death |
| bark and milky-clay...! | | | | (he cast them over my head). |
| We are the honored ones-(you know)given to a | | | | No man could know such things, unlesshe was part |
| whole world system-:one hand reaching to heaven | | | | of it. |
| the other to hell;the truth is, we have two flavors. | | | | And now he's gone, he up and left- |
| Those who have not been born yet:man and beast | | | | (just like that...). |
| are not so far apart | | | | I called, "Are you near?" and he didnot answer me |
| (and very hard to please). | | | | back. |
| No: 1951 8-27-2007 | | | | Then at the end of my bed, I saw-why! |
| Dialogue with the Devil | | | | There stood in my hospital room, theeyes and |
| "I'll make a pack with you," said He to me (the Devil), | | | | shoulders of a great being: |
| "I have detested you long enough. I first saw you | | | | He did not speak, -he simple watchedover me. |