She stands to see the sun

illuminate campfire smoke,

sends an incantation to the day,

a prayer for happiness,

a prayer for peace to all.

 

She stands on the ledge,

arms raised high giving her

a presence, an authority,

an all too-certain rule

over my too-human heart.

 

Silhouetted as she calls,

I have to see her breasts,

the lines of her body,

bringing memories of night

to my too-human eyes.

 

(after the 1905 photograph, “Incantation,” by Anne Brigman)