Thinking of you, walking slowly through the trees

“Oh I’m all right now

it’s like you brought the

center of the forest right here...”

Like a bird or a squirrel

you long for the woods,

how you must envy me,

my sister, who this very day must

travel terribly far.

can you manage it alone?

ask me to go with you

crying—ask me—

your cheeks however

how beautiful they are.

I’ll put these fresh pine boughs

on top of the mosquito net

they may drip a little

ah, a clean

smell like turpentine.

THIEF

About when the stars of the Skeleton

were paling in the dawn:

Striding the crackly glitter

—frozen mud—

The thief who had just stolen a celadon vase

from the front of a store

Suddenly stopped those long black legs

Covered his ears with his hands

And listened to the humming of his mind.

Other Titles

OTHER BOOKS BY GARY SNYDER

Earth House Hold

Myths and Texts

Regarding Wave

The Real Work: Interviews and Talks, 1964-1979

Turtle Island