The white dwarf’s embrace of its black hole partner is so close,

it sends headline writers into hyperdrive. To some, the black hole is predatory; to others, the star is insane. But what if it’s love?

wetlands in winter

I crush another cathedral
with every step

muzzle swiveling to catch
every scent

is as full of life as any corpse.

fine hairs stirring from the photographer’s breath

gnats follow the branching cracks in its skin

springing through an old fern leaf art deco stamens

a strand of silk joins their hairy stems

the click beetle’s antennae sweep back and forth

an eyeful of ratty leaves when I bend down to sniff

there is no milkweed but milkweed

This was taken in late December, after the first snowpack melted off, whence the slightly crushed appearance.