In moments of distress:
                          amabam:
             I can think only
             of Latin chants

I learned:
                          amabas:
             at the school my
             father founded: his

way of loving: as he knew:
             with knowledge:
                          amabat:
but it’s not

meaning that comforts:
             it’s always been the sound:
                          amabamus:
his axe splitting

logs: yarrow spray
             in my hand:
                          amabatis:
             match struck: stems

already dying: amabant:
             I felt split
             from some wronged
             root: firelight

ringing what I knew:
                          I was loving:
             outside it grew:
lightly exiting:

his dream:
                          you were loving:
             endures:
                          it was: we were: