DID YOU KNOW

  by Bates Corlieu

did you know that the heart has an edge
a rim that
if you run your finger ‘round it
sings like a sacred brass bowl
where poetry asks the sea in you
to shift and shine salt upon salt
heave sloshing
spill rushing
pouring out its only comfort
of stars unfallen
splattering droplets in phthalo blue
even over the moon’s pale painted dreams
even over the mind’s end

did you know that the mind has an end

a precipice
over which
you could let your dark flag
flutter down forever