Surprise they

whisper as I crouch under

locust trees whipping like frenzied buff-

alos, branches crackled and knuckling

while fiery steam loco-

motives of wind transfer coals and char-

coal tincture into the Orion

stratosphere. Surprise they

bellow as I belly up to

gravid meteors of yore

tumultuous past lives, each rum-

inaction better than

a buzzard or cock-

roach. Surprise they tremble, tumbling

out of the tomb, mum-

bling astonish-

ment as I blink and wink and nod.