名人诗歌|Above the Fire

Above the fire a man floats in a boat.

Above the fire a woman is devoured^{1 by a snake，}

unseen.

The leaves are yellow alongside in the wake

the trunks branches

mirror one another， black， rain-soaked.

And now he's old. He trails a hand until it snares²

a leafsaw-toothed.

Clouds break above the buildings

where there had been none.

The snake is old， its jaw^{3 completely}

unhinged for the swallowing.

What now？

There was a continent.

Below， the last gods bum^{4 along with their last}

offerings

no smoke， no film， no evidence.

The gold-shagged blizzard^{5 of the willow6}

spills again.

Climb down. Prevent.

He leans back the oar^{7 drips like no other memory.}