Montana Love Sequence
By Shann Ray
i . sorrow
is the curved ribcage of a beautiful death,
the elk’s arched bones visible in the morning
over Hellroaring Plateau.
This is not unlike a man’s chest
just after he wrongs just after
he says no to the beloved, followed by yes.
Yes is Maheo is the hollow of her hand
on my ribs
as we pray and sleep and dream.
ii . beautiful
the sight of brothers gently blessing each other
in word or song. Sorrow
the lips touched to the open wrist
and beautiful the beloved in the body
of night.
Beautiful how she breathes and speaks
stars over the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness,
beautiful the fields of atomic multitudes, and beautiful
our names written in the palm of God’s hand.
iii . sorrow
in the shoulders of the beloved,
sorrow the hollowed heart.
Hollow us o God in all things.
Hollow the wing bones of an eagle
high over Hellroaring Plateau.
Hollow my beloved’s hand fit to mine
with me bent at the bedside
asking forgiveness. Sorrow good sorrow of the hours
of why and when we end, elk song, bugle, winter wind.
Notes:
This grouping of three images and two sequences of poems draws from a brotherhood of peace shared by Czech American poet Shann Ray and Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho ledger artist James Black. As collaborating artists on a work in progress called “Brother My Brother,” Black and Ray take as their project the reconciliation of people and nations.
Source: Poetry (October 2025)