Death Valley

In the valley of the shadow of death
I walk beside you

I am the acrobats
cartwheeling between the palm trees
the ghosts of absent friends

I am your father, your son
the worrier and the worried about

I am the stars in the night sky
friendly and terrifying

You see longing in the shapes of clouds
parting and joining, melting
across the blue sky at noon

To be is wanting
another place, another shape
another you

But I am one