to the collapse of that pierced belt & bright
shoulder clasp of Betelgeuse, is how far
you would go to understand. I didn’t know

how our skeletons would clash with those
plucked stars, how our rough ribs
would challenge every word, every light

that grew & faded. We take a night hike
to the cliffs over the bay. Find footing
in smudged breath. We, born in shreds

of damp clouds & chanced waves. The sea
laughs at our strain to piece together this
hieroglyph dream, this life. I want to see past

heaven’s backbone. It stretches far, reaches &
centers in the crevasse of the flung sky.
We bathe in its rich depth of light. We cling

to what gives meaning: house lights, dark-lined
trees, smell of wet sage, late season honey-
suckle, & the continual muted asking of a dark ocean.