Hotel Print

Sunset on this thin elongated horizon
a shadow casting light without a breeze
brushstroke
turn
these waters of light and bubbling glare

Turning toward the wall
muttering
I’ve done my part
a sight exchange of words and goods
but it will always be my river
my river
whoever me might be

I’m wandering out at night into the starless moonscape boundary
the wire thin line
the false flattering footsteps stopping just short of here and posted and persecution
listening to long ago gunshots
repeat
long ago gunshots
shod horses
barebacked wind

I’m wandering out and looking past the darkness
the night
hearing the too too shrill wild clawing cries of coyotes
specter of wolves
the shadow taught in my hand
whispering repeat
the shadow soft on the print posted abstractly on a hotel room’s wall
untitled
unsigned
crookedly unimaginative.