First Place

by Jeffrey Wright

for Bob and Sono

Burn without fear, my special case.
My heartwood. My nine iron.
My bell that wrings the wind.
Eager to seek an island of dreams.

Your loom spun with wolf hair
and moon fur. Zinnias singing
past dawn. Buttonballs falling
off sycamores. All calling home.

Night leaks stars as around, it spins,
pinned to the horns of Capricorn.
What you make to keep, keeps you.
Night doing donuts on county lanes.

Free, wild, and beautiful, hold on
to what holds you in the first place.