.. (xi).

lightning flashes

and they said, "God is laughing

         and beating his hand

         against the clouds"

and the crickets clack

         and they say, "the night

         sings, the dark hums"

and the wind blows

         and they say, "the trees

         dance, and the world walks

         with me--slings its arm

         around my shoulders"

then the smoke might

         as well be my friend

         might as well be

         my companion,

through the clacking 

night, under the blurring

of the stars

          might as well

          be my brother

          we watch

us and us only

as the lights dim

and the highway lays

          it's head on it's tail