36


Because water is not perfectly transparent, almost all sunlight is absorbed in the surface layer. . .


from the high sill in Villa Goiosa
                reverse stone creaks of thunder
                               seem to grind and wipe
                                             then fade pulled back
                                                           to form smooth pleats
                                                                       of sound drawn in
                                                                                 absorbed
                                                                                           a lo-fi sign of signal loss
                                                                                                    and yet beneath
                                                                                                            this vertical downpour
                                                                                                                    Nature sits perfectly still
                                                                                                                         Her proxy glistens
                                                                                                                              that's how I know
                                                                                                                                  I've missed my cue
                                                                                                                                     perhaps it's poised
                                                                                                                                       out there where ripples fan
                                                                                                                                        and spread mid-water
                                                                                                                   once purged
                                                                                                                   the weather forms
                                                                                                                   a doubt awareness scheme
                                                                                                                  rain retreats
                                                                                                                light pans out
                                                                                                             enters lower down
                                                                                                         the grey scale slides
                                                                                                    disclosing tucks of headland
                                                                                              until at last
                                                                                       the coast makes sense
                                                                               revealed woods rise vertically strewn
                                                                      as if dabbed on
                                                            at best unrolled
                 we crouch beside the rim
                 the lake itself skimmed smooth again
                only determined hysterical watercraft
              leave white ribbon rips
           briefly taped to a shifting gash
       in darkness