Shantih Journal 2.1 | Page 68

Frail Altars Marguerite Harrold Finally your tank has cracked Your army green fractured Bare bone bends the night Beneath a body of metal Stranded with the damaged leaves An olive colored jungle in splinters You’ll find pieces of me Inside what’s left of you An offering of rotten oranges A temple of wrinkled postcards A pocket knife busted Encrusted with blood In these liberated hours You’ll remember When the light terrorized you And there was no bottom I covered you with my skin Inside me you floated Like Vishnu dreaming the chaos We moaned a mantra more careful than fear Moon Moon I am not I wanted to see you cry And overwhelm the Buddha 68