Summer battlefield—
 
a soldier about to die
 
kisses a small cross.

Crash

 
 
 

near the junior high
 
a cluster of white crosses
 
after last week’s crash

River

 
 
 

the swollen river—
 
hoping to cross by nightfall
 
in my leaking boat

Waiting

 
 
 

waiting for blackbird
 
to cross the swollen river
 
just before sundown

Cross

 
 
 

cemetery blues—
 
the lieutenant’s new white cross
 
skewering the moon

Forgiveness

 
 
 

what about the cross
 
makes a man despise himself
 
or renounce his art