I know, to entice, to convince, I must sing Your ear inside stone, must sing Gold bitten and true, the corn kernel, one seed, I must plant one gold seed in your mouth with my lips. Raleigh says: the Queen knows my name. The Crown Of a woodpecker is ruby, but shy. Inhabitants adorn themselves with feathers, and feathers Bright on arrow ends. Bow--before a Queen. Bend closed my book. The page is deaf that turns back to look at what it found.
From North True South Bright by Dan Beachy-Quick. Copyright © 2003 by Dan Beachy-Quick. Reprinted by permission of Alice James Books. All rights reserved.