I walk the whorls

I walk the whorls

Each concentric line

Etched in mind time

Melting footsteps each

And all one winding

after

I walk the whorls

Graze the newborn

Head still wet

Dip a curtsy to

A lovers’ liquid

Leer

I walk the whorls

Wash the sweet fish stink

Fresh fileted from

That chilled childhood

Lake

I walk the whorls

Belly flesh brown

Taut hip bones jutting

A bead of sweat in the

Sun

Setting, settling, softening

I walk the whorls

Self, others, sweet, sour,

Blood soaked, perfumed

And lotioned in the sun and

Shade abandoned and abandoner

I walk the whorled

Wondering

Why