ash (ii)

one of the boys across the street

is trying to learn a song

                  hear the chords grinding towards ascension

       he falters, pauses

cannot master

                      the solo

I am leaving

a trail of smoke, only

I have burnt to ash

fluttering and cold

I pause at the edge of the driveway

the cat pauses, also

and skirts me, as always

        I hold myself, hard

in the soles of my boots

in the pressure

    of the sky on my head

the mirrors have throw

their reflections

                             out

      --in a heap, sprawled

the chords rise

     straining, against themselves

and begin to dissolve

         shedding notes, clatter

fall senseless

    into disonance, and the player

confused, a little betrayed

noodles a progression

like a sparrow's howl

        disjointed, melodic

rage--lost in the bushes

the song of an axel

        --a screaming, circling hum

I will fall

      behind myself

a scatter, and the wind

will sweep the pavement clean