DOWNSLOPE the years grown through the roots on the side ranging down from sunrise the trunks carrying the years upward beneath mottled bark the light which lifts over their heads and falls down between branches or when clouds cover and the rain is let out of them the rain strokes us through the permeable canopy the leaves' many stories higher built partly of air mild in the forest the leaf floor dissolving at my feet out of my hand the sprout falls its darkness still clinging I clung to you our rain went off where rain goes and sinks the sun when it comes after long rain drying the slopes out makes them forgetful