as the sun drops
in this latitude
at 4pm, it begins.

almonds, orris root:
irises and venus, return
to me. lemon peel, liquorice.

be russia’s alexander. conquer
the ancients. the climate suits you.
grains of paradise tick time, marrow

marks, capillary fractures. coriander,
forever’s residue. cassia. bless the next
customary behavior. cubeb berries

for immersion. is there
a psychic threshold
to the heart?

juniper, dim door jambs.
anjelica’s blood tonic
for unhinging the night.