ELEGY                                                          
	(Uncle Bernie, 1912-1993)

For the lullaby story of butterflies and gnomes,
	Three moons and a cracked river.

For the hairy, fleshy hands pulling coins from my ear,
	Three moons and a cracked river.

For blue silk suits, perfumed face, and blue-nimbus cigar,
	Three moons and a cracked river.

For loud kisses we traded on each other's bald head,
	Three moons and a cracked river.

And for the mute blind dwarf curled up like a molt,
	Three moons…a cracked river.