September (a Pantoum)

Firewood must be dead to ignite & burn.

Everything that is alive

(like anger, the fire must be fed so we’ll get warm)

will smoke up—

Everything that is alive,

our objects from the wilderness 

will smoke up;

they will not give us warmth at night.

Our objects from the wilderness 

[words] are too precious; please stay quiet & peaceful.

They will not give us warmth at night.

Please don’t gather up the green sticks!

Words are too precious; please stay quiet & peaceful.

Like anger, the fire must be fed so we’ll get warm—

Please don’t gather up the green sticks!

Firewood must be dead to ignite & burn.

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