Comprehending the Language of Air

Comprehending the Language of Air Matthew Hummer

Αλϕα: The dead leave voice behind and molder brittle bones. The new dead burnish letters rising from blackened recesses that malinger in living minds.

Βετα: We tread roots and sea stones left by a primal ocean.

Γαμμα: My mind fishes minnows in the Black Sea of memory.

Δελτα: Steven DePew signed up for the Navy and was scheduled to enter service in July.

Επσιλον: We talk a sibilant speech before the birth of thought.

Ζετα: Getting lost is getting found later on. Stevie’s name burned onto a wooden park post.

Ετα: Time heals all wounds and devours all flesh.

Θετα: A shattering windshield— Christmas light strings on porches and eaves, like fireflies hung to dry.

Ιοτα: The black horse hides in the closet with red eyes. He bites the child’s face while he sleeps and dreams.

Καππα: Nathan said, “I only know little words.”

Λαμβδα: The hook plucks the lip from the sluggish sea, into bright, hard light.

Μυ: The radio preacher screamed “God said” and spoke King James English.

Νυ: In San Agostino, skulls with angel wings grin with broken teeth.

Ξι: The disciples found Jesus on the beach roasting fish for breakfast after death.

Ομικρον: The last breath of the old year: fields glazed are glass shards in lungs.

Πι: A circular truth—the snake devours its tail.

Ρο: The curtain falls onto muted shapes, ghosts under red velvet.

Σιγμα: Creosote, thick and black, clots like blood on the telephone pole.

Ταυ:: Tacks and packaging tape from garage sales and lost dogs where tar clots.

Υπσιλον: Grass sprouts four spindles of flay seeds— like shiny flower graves.

ϑι: The lollipop letter, ϕ, contrary of π, searching for its end; the green light in an old dog’s eyes.

Χι: Jennifer, Julie, Kristen, and Jessica survived the crash.

Ψι: Nathan spelled the words he dreamed. “Y-E-L-L-O-W,” written on recycled paper.

Ομεγα: A rosary on a lost-dog tag. The in-breathing Spirit, survives flesh through ϕ, the yellow kangaroo in a sleeping child’s mind.