The Maze

I saw the dead bird on the sidewalk his neck uncovered and prehistoric At seven in the morning my hair was bound against the fish in the air who begged for the ocean I longed for their place Behind the tall thin muslin of the curtain we could see his shadow knocking and we waited not stirring crouched by the fireplace where the ashes blew out later we checked the harbor to see if it was safe rather hoping one had gone astray and flunk itself upon the shore for all to watch If I should weep they would never know and so I walked silently shrugging off hands in treacherous places wanting to fall In Williamsburg, Virginia my uncle pointed out the Maze which grew in the dead governor's garden delighted I went to it and stood poised inside the precise entrance like a long hallway the tightly trimmed bushes held themselves pointing each leaf and twig in an unquestioning manner white gravel caressed my feet the sky disappeared and I could hear the sound of water rushing I knew each corner without pausing Held captive in a cave Ulysses sobbed for his wife who was singing high melodies from the center of a cobweb shawl of their design three feathers I picked from a stone in my path and turning at last I saw the speckled bench and halting fountain which marked the end. She tortures the curtains of the window shreds them like some insane insect creates a demented web from the thin folds her possessed fingers clawing she thrusts them away with sharp jabs of long pins to the walls. 1958