a string of coral for health
and she struggles to wrap her mind
around the duality of his existence;
voracious and virile
human and a guide
no less daunting than Charon;
he brandishes the smile
of Gotama, holy pennon,
from a stave encrypted with scripture
and gift-wrapped with Warhol.

he is the source and the mouth
and the hand that fails
to blot the sky from being;
Vasudeva, the prodigal sun.

(om)