joy like a thorn, motive stripped to speed,

dreams of fall & pause & ache & fling

& sob, breasting up the tide of winds,

a tiny stinging heart thrust through the rain,

red as a star & hot as the spar of a blade

& ravenous as a stone slung stung & true

as the press of a pulse, gulp & strain & swoon,

grateful for the great of the air, its heat

& hurry, its height & heft, dreams of greed

for forthward, blood & breath shot sheer

till breath is needless, blood the same as air,

thought this thoughtless arc, this vault & veer,

heartless, perfect, perilous, unaware.