This We Knew

“It was not like before

when the leaves turned over in their season

to days of ice

and men and women huddled around in their rituals

of dying days

Clocks and rivers ran

in their courses

as the ruddy fish

in their secret matings

swam swollen against them

to breathe deep

in the fecund waters

Then somewhere under the spheres

(on a Tuesday I think)

the elk ran left at the willow tree

when they always turned right

The ravens perched sleepless

upon the highest branch

and for the first time afraid

The scribe stops for a moment

and remembers starlings

and a knot somewhere

unties

and none knew this

save the eagles and the prophets

Something has begun

but this we knew”