I: Version Two

from Book of the Year Three Thousand

I like a great hot blowing wind swept down upon the great plain my sword the

sun my spear a screaming hawk made of blood my shield a shower of gold plumes

plummeting down in blazes of fire before my swarming opening eye like a great

singing hawk made of mouths swooped down upon the great plain my sword a sea

of restless flame my spear silver moon rays on shimmering diamond needle points

my shield expanding in the swarming sky like a great hot bursting sun swam

down upon the great plain my sword the number five my spear frail the curve

of the crescent moon my shield a wound and a dark cry like a great blossoming

storm swirled down upon the great plain my sword the knives of autumn rain

my spear zig zag lightning my shield a shining soaring wing on high like a great

boiling sea poured down upon the great plain my sword a swarm of sunken flames

my spear a pure overwhelming word my shield a sure touch and a shared sigh

like a great shuddering tree fell down upon the great plain my sword the

sudden revelation of dreams my spear streaming raggy winds my shield a gigantic

soaring bird begins to fly like a great raging river flowed down upon the

great plain my sword the flowering crystal laughter my spear the wan moon in

the water my shield a soft hand gently waving goodbye like a great motion of

leaves fluttered down upon the great plain my sword the swift sure retribution

my spear the appearance of complete concentric circles my shield the soft

deceitful lie like a great writhing serpent dropped down upon the great plain

my sword the speckled glinting clusters my spear a clear glow from the horizon

my shield a slowly forming enigmatic smile like a great shining desert mirage

floated down upon the great plain my sword a sudden stillness of the air my

spear streaks of red and yellow my shield sheltering one who was about to die  

like a great rolling wheel of dreams wound down upon the great plain my sword

a stone my spear a buzzing fly my shield a mountain of dry salt and there

in the midst of five enormous lakes filled with blood there there in the midst

of five enormous lakes filled with blood I met the friendly truth he had a

gold tooth gold tooth gold tooth gold tooth gold tooth gold tooth gold tooth