Crossing the Island

(Kárpathos, twenty years ago)

Heat heat and the sky a flame of sapphire
an ocean of fire even rocks blazing
the earth a rush of coals Aegean summer
the air still the day dead center in the sun
the world without breath even the goats
drinking light all morning have descended
to the shade of a cistern while out there
the blue of the ocean and the other blue of sky
come together in that place where the gods
descend to this world and enter