He recalls the midsummer night’s lush thunderlight

Anhui Province soldier and pals patrolling

a fire tower an earthquake

pitching the old brick station trapped

in the dread rubble dark friends

consorting with death before he broke

free. Years later

he lives blood quickened by revenants’

hushed lament in twilight’s red dust settling

longs to leave for Kansas because he must

live free from airless brick-laid spaces

stubbled fields of grass he needs

broad enough for ghosts to breathe.