pictures for an unwritten poem

Chinese astronomers called the five
major planets by the names
of the element they were
associated with

Venus to Metal
Jupiter to Wood
Mercury to Water
Mars to Fire
Saturn to Earth.

born in an odd year i was all yin
dark and full of holding
you tried to empty me
but i was too full.

i brought chaos home
Each year on the seventh
day of the seventh month birds
form a bridge
across the Milky Way.


born in an even year
you yanged and banged
my head against my whole.


i tried
to take you in
but you were overflowing
with departure

it was up to me to make it grow.

left in space like stairways to an emperor's tomb.
now a dragon curls its way out of its egg
carved clouds of goodbye.