dark poetry

they in the darkness gather and ask
two rows of cabbages
brief on a flying night
here falls no light
suddenly, out of dark and leafy ways
i never knew the earth had so much gold
the smell of the rose so false, the thorns so true
i bid them all farewell
doubtless i remember still
in all things not spoken of
candles toppling sideways in tomato cans
passing through huddled and ugly walls
glooms of the live-oaks
the little white prayers