Assignment of Angels
Who watches over this animal
earth, its tectonic shifts, hungers
fiery bombs, snow
rucked over edges of plows
in the deep of night
pilgrims scratching to mecca
tender chaos of violets sprung
among roots and fields
Marsalis in perpetual motion
his divine breath, the cornet
orange-jumpsuited detainees
their shackles and prayers
you, love, your infant wild gaze
when awakened from dreams—
what thunderous minds embrace us
which crystalline limbs