A Road Once Taken

by Luis Garcia

At first there was only back,
a falling behind the others,
a perpetual rushing
that wants to keep alongside,

but then there was —
let them go
let the particulars
of the landscape return,

rocks by deep water,
dark red fish,
the sun burning
as if to separate you from yourself,

shadows within shadows,
and a bend in the road
that leads only

to claws and teeth,
endless, endless
claws and teeth.