"what first unfurled"

what first unfurled flies out, a lisp

so slips from the fold of "first"; it will fresh

what follows, "follow" left to flow

its own; so rolls the flood behind,

"full" that flows, its undertow

lies out in wait; the word, "later,"

will wait; later "wait" will, word,

on a breath float furling in to rest

the rest: clean is the feel of it, fielded;

"clean," at last flown down, afield,

but now wound down in, the winding, wind,

"wing" winged down, silent

but for gust of the gasp, the wisp of whisper

long does the last breath last,

só long for the hint of it, kiss of it,

"kiss" is a hint of the last of it, only

the left of it; what, left, lingers:

linger, "last"

—Nicholas Laughlin