Therapy
   

Fill an urn with cool water, then empty it
on the ground.

When she's in the other room, put your hand
to the flame.

Thrice say self, letting it go slowly, then search
for meaning.

Lying on your back, redraw the lines to form
a new constellation.

In dream, be the first to etch a prayer
in the Wadi el-Hol.

    
 

R L Swihart currently resides with his wife and two girls in Long Beach, CA. His works have appeared in various e-zines and print magazines. New work is slated to appear in the Spring 2006 Issue of the Avatar Review.