Brody Parrish Craig
x marks the spot the carve initials here
my start of letters red clay mud rouge scratch
into the trees your pocket knife whittles
indention away parts you can't pronounce
the scar ruts in my landscape broken down
to blood cell don't abbreviate the river
don't call the ruddy body close enough
if stream's excess fills shines close
to copper & to touch red clay dirt water
once my mother mentioned wilderness
grandfather taught me how to tell
the difference: what one must & mustn't keep
keep determining & don't you try to name the wild
bank on the silt beside us scabbing back