Voyager Two Writes from Neptune

09 Degrees in Capricorn

August 25, 1989

I wanted you in the war time, in the cool harbor of forgiveness.

Plumes stemmed dark from Triton, coxcomb and clementine,

Queen Anne’s Lace and memories of elegance erupting /

swishswishswish. The sky is still the sky, still blue,

birdless, ring washed, arc worn, spun from storm.

I twitch upon the target body, swallowing each bright image,

N2H4 foaming like breath upon cool glass,

longing to be as inhospitable—