Leave of Absence

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walk out and arrive 
near the lake— 
any route taken 
leads eventually 
to this 

surrounded by the body 
we choose certain places 
and learn to leap 
without moving 

cross over to pines— 
blue people standing 

where at first unsure 
you join them 
hands limp at sides 
until you know again 
only emptiness 
can be filled 

dressed in the bodies of birds 
move out in several directions 
at once—mountain rock erupting 

oak branches bowed down 
beneath you 
sunglint off water

alight with winged insects 
and float in pools 
until past the holographed leaves
you see the gradual black/green
of the bottom, the water’s glacial weight 

and you begin to translate 
an early darkness 

using memory 
you have forgotten 
you have