heartland

heartland



in the deep arterial cracks
through the yellow green meadow

crystal water loudly rushes
in a facetted smash

carving through thick slides
of burnt orange clay bed.

the stink of decaying flesh, tufts of caramel fur
slipping down nude bones of wild deer that became trapped there

now molded into the land.

the water snaking through, hissing without pause

past root exposures and weighted puddles. you can hardly
help yourself from wanting to reach in

and massage the exposed heart here, like a cardiologist does
in an effort to revive,

the feeling of that soft gelatin smooth organ/
blubbery like whale skin.

its hot red/rhythmic muscle,
the obstacle course that sustains simple life.