Inventing the Land

by Andrea L. Watson

Now this is what you shall do —

Take the land each way
you dream a lover   earth skin
seamless against his found beauty

No map for this country called flame
sky   the supple throat of fire   tasting
amethyst   bittersweet   cerulean

Ride some road to that place with no name
past ripe – veined acequias pierced by twilight
heat blood in rock soil pulsing and blazed

Six miles to the belly of moonrise
where mesas pleasured by alamillos and sage
ache beneath horizon’s arched back

Touch loins with smoke and silver to hold
the wanted stars   unlatch the wilding
gate to the burning of the world

Nowhere but dusk   born in clay and tinder
nothing but this   night – blooming
bed of luminous surrender.

Lie down with the land   let it break you —