for the mountains, by the mountains, of the mountains

rising in the middle of night
the orogeny of matter and manner
turns the sky over my head, white
humming songs of isolation
with warmth and tenderness
comforting my cold feet
these fields of swaying birches
along with willows and junipers
know more than the montane monks
they know
they know that
when the mountains fall
matters will end
and they will rise again
and fall again
again and again

the orogeny of matter and manner, 2023

metallic marker on paper

32” x 12” (3 panels)