Fire escape ladders embroidered
with chains of black honey
tar brush flicking a smudge of jewels
brick on infertile brick
descending through the waterfall's mouth
oil singed at the rims of a tipping crater
branches flowering photosynthetic violence
from the dark heart of cutting bark.

Glass octagons filled frame to frame
with thick green leaves.
Summer's frenzy of birds
tearing at the shower curtain.