volume 14 number 2
by Jane Downs
the child finds a fossil in bedrock hardened tendrils bone drained back into stone a trace expressing an action an essential nature
what is underground is the stopped animal white undershell of extinguished species time stopped the face of the thing hidden
the sun’s shadow reaches into strata blossoms blow loose sewing white onto sky
crow call the green-spiked tree the will of something remembered
the mother is seen reading her book falls open in her lap
her eyes grow heavy with the floating daylight her hands feel slender the white of her arm a definition as is the shape of her cheek