William Rush

ABOVE

                     Earth grabs your feet
                       the ground presses
                                               Joyce Lee

                                                which is just as well because
                                                the temptation is always
                                                to float above the world

                                                in the company of clouds
                                                where mystery and mist
                                                enamel the earth

                                                irregular dams glinting
                                                like diamonds set among topaz
                                                and the odd emerald field

                                                one could believe from such a height
                                                that any creature hidden under rock
                                                had the translucence of pearl

                                                and all things black and
                                                unbeautiful had drained away
                                                to some irretrievable depth