many names

many names you had
said many moons
as we grazed the sky for sharp signs

many hearts you wore
said many feathers
as the horses hooves cheated the crickets
and bled their silence

many dreams you had
said many children
who cooed and cooed the fire to bursting

many clouds you sang
said many dances
as we beat up the dust and cried to the owl
who was watching and counting

i counted the owl as he cooed
and the moon sank
and the dances washed away
and the faces turned to ash, smoke
and the hearts floated through me
and into the dark