5

At the cliff edge the ass bucked
Into the atmosphere. The earth
Crumbled, hot sods into the ravine,
Hoofwise into the dark, into the earth.

At the night edge the earth bucked
Into outer space, hot-rock into the dark,
And the soil of space was wet
With rain all through its long night.

The ass was broken into a constellation,
Its flesh was consumed by astral fire
And its bones lashed with the rain
Coming in from Andromeda in the dawn.