St. John de Brebeuf (patron of Canada)

I’ve been touched

and I’ve been touched

and the corn withers

and bends. golden hair

to golden ground.

I’ve been touched

and I’ve been touched

and the pond freezes

nearly solid. I step

forward. I crack though.

I’ve been touched

and I’ve been touched

and I make necklaces

of burning coal. red clouds

bloom on my collarbone.

I’ve been touched

and I’ve been touched

and the idea of us

drowned in the sun,

in the shade, in the morning.