Dust

she wanted rain

as release from her longing

she wanted rain

sluicing her breasts after love

when the great thirst

filling, leaf-brown, swept

and she sobbed, o yes,

and the water beat down

and bent her. she wanted

violence, over-abundance

flowing in gullies

up over the lip

she wanted rain

easing her like a child

while the trees, eager,

thrust out their roots:

the earth drank.

she wanted the dank

smell of wry dust

soaked after storms. she

sought virulent summer-

green satisfactions.