Badlands flashback

the body stoops,
the hand goes out,
picks up from the gravel
a fragment of white seashell

for a moment
a roaring
the ancient sea
fills the space that just now was mine

moving diamond-shapes,
grasses flowing
the sudden cry of a bird
blazes all along the sky!

* * *

a herd of antelope
crosses the horizon
hooves scintillating like glass.

a laugh rings like crystal
in the empty sky --
someone is dancing like a flame!