Kites over Tents

Slept they there
all night, under woven
canvas wall tents;

Gulf wind wove over
cloud steam and vapor
streaming all night;

Through bull rush salt grasses
drove mosquitoes
inland with clouds

Clouds pushing past
stationery moon
faced with foggy
eyed tears

Tents grommets
held fast
till wind relents
and is paced out;

Orion pops out
with its string of stars
tethered to dippers

And diamonds of clippers
set sail afar
kites over tents,
kites over tents.



Patrick Darnell (March 2001)