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Forgotten Ground Regained

Boon

George Johnston
Recording: Michael Helsem reciting "Boon"
Heat-weary head · the humid morningmoves with mounting · menace into day;dims the deep woods, dulls the skyline.Sullen, slow-paced · sisterhood of hazehover hang-breasted · hairy over fields,fill with forthcoming · flood and thunder.Thirst threads earth · in thin rootlets,reaches restlessly · rock-branched for waterwaiting for weather's wild-handed boon.Breath, a first breeze · brightens aspensairy, easy. All at once darkdour-faced, driving, day's burdenbursts in a blind flash · blunders among trees,twists over tops, tears bits away.Outgush, Earth-hammer · issue of gods,grandeur that gives · and grieves, magnificent.
Copyright © George Johnson, 1990. Originally published in Endeared by Dark: reprinted by permission of the author.
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