Peace Maker
Appalacian autumn maple leaves -
the Scottish witch-man
of wicked arched eyebrows.
His hair - dark-fired tobacco,
silk-soft and gleaming.
The kisses of his mouth -
maple sugar sap.
His moustache -
slanting exclamation points
painted highlander red.
He speaks of beeswax candles,
sassafras tea, purple coneflowers,
willow bark, river trout.
Only I can see the two horns
growing out of his head!
When I grow weary,
he bids me rest:
"Drift" he says,
"on the Dragon's Breath."
1998 SilkCocoon
