We used to live in the shoals of time
where the spread of life before us
sparkled and spread out into an azure forever.

We’re spread out, now, like oil on the well
like the popping white sea foam
Like jealous hummingbirds in an endless
field of lavendar.

We become ozone
too intense for the living world
too in love with it to leave
just a barrier beyond reach,
skinless against the sun.

Burning, we open to the world
forsaking comfort and delight
falling into the next thing
including comfort and delight
we burn.