in a china sky

heavy fabric full
this sailcloth rotund
pregnant with wind
in a china sky

flap as chime
masculine notes
whipping
humidity

as my thoughts
dry rope wrench
neck muscles
taut

braying to hold
the burgeoning belly
the breath of time
warm in the king's yolk

_________

revised while watching my Tigers dispatch the Hogs

upon lacquered chestnut
under sailcloth pregnant
and a masculine wind
blowing fatherly

I gazed into
a china blue sky
counting white clouds
drinking amber beer

dreaming the day
as waves lap
our vessel
of wood and leather

only the song of
rope taut
stretching twine
flexing bristle

as bow on string
the music of wind
on a clear day
clearly mine

as my Tigers swing
bats on fire
gloves aglow
in the golden jerseys
of victory