Iris

she rises upright, sheds
night like raven feathers
to become another,
light-engorged, turns
through sky, strong palms
the earth, pushing arcwise
against the grey gravity
into that fiery corona,
vast ring of burning palps,
sea-anemone tentacling
the oceanic clouds.

flying so, in solitary
ceremony, she opens
to the taloned sun, belly
clawed, opens to release
the mystery. yaa, life
like liver, torn, tawsed,
devoured ceaselessly.

whatever god, goddesses,
rise, ride that road beneath,
between trees barked
like snakes, whatever comes,
goes on that highway,
she heralds, guides
with rainbow gestures,
gravid, she greets
every day and births colour,
distance, calving knowledge
into the blur and cluster
of dreams, unfurls that
simple glory daily. habit husks
her beauty, lids my sight

only the birdborne orison
sometimes stops my steps,
pearls my lips in wonder
and. I, mothered, murmurless,
now only for a moment,
worship at the shining shrine
of she who rises upright
shedding night like
raven feathers.

                      grasshopper