The soul needs solace, the body, solace,
respite from heat and threat of fire. Here,
the sky above the Sound is white with fog.
The buoy rings like church bells. In morning,
trees create their own rain, pull
water from air and exhale tears. In mourning,
the foghorn sighs its ancient song: Home.
Home. Waves hurl themselves at land,
break over and over like hearts.
The world still burns.
Subhaga Crystal Bacon’s new book, Transitory, is forthcoming in the fall of 2023 from BOA Editions. She’s the author of two previous collections, Blue Hunger, 2020, Methow Press, and Elegy with a Glass of Whiskey, BOA Editions, 2004. A Queer Elder, she lives, writes, and teaches rural northcentral Washington. Her recent work appears or is forthcoming in humana obscura, Wood Cat Review, Wild Roof, Journal and The Meadowlark Review. Her work can be found on www.subhagacrystalbacon.com.