tapestry [2009]

pulled taut
too tight to tear, it now
conceals the pale flesh of me
shades my shadows and other from 
the distances and ignorant light

it is where great trees once stood
and lesser flowers
and lesser, much less, an indigenous man
alone in the ground cover, and rocks
and dust

but, when later
meals are taken not at tables
and some are not there to sit
this tapestry will drop to drape me
and only keep me warm