by Pavel Chichikov
The milk cow's hide is black and white
Her flesh is corn and earth inside
Trees are gold vermilion
Day is thick cerulean
The clouds are mother pearl of ice
All of such brocade
That thread of gold will fade
And be a stitch of autumn rain
In autumn's coronation train
Then the field will marry snow –
A gown of ice around her sew,
Snell and wind the ceremony
Books of leaves the lectionary
Sky the habit, night the candle
Harvest in the tabernacle
(Click here to follow Pavel's ongoing epic poem “The Shoulder of the Sun.” You may also visit Pavel's website at Grey Owl Press.)