a shepherds' weeping

sometimes when i’m just so sad
and grief bleeds from me my breath drowning in
some kind of letting go of ideas and beliefs
that have held me together a rock piled mountain
crumbling i’ll lay my bones on the ground
curled up like new fern
or old toothless coyote
and the sheep always come to me
stand close around my small body like a shield
or a conduit
smell my tears
chew my hair
just stand there
till i’m through it.