Dear Max

I went to the ocean this week.

I also went

          to the mountain

          to the desert

          to the caldera of a volcano.

I was looking for something but did not know

that I was looking nor

did I find anything at all.

I know to you that makes as much sense as

          a farro-colored doe with big eyes like big questions

          the pleasurable pop sound of bull kelp bulbs

          the spines of alpine trees like bleached whale bones.

I was running from something but did not know

that I was running nor

did I think of you at all.

I know that you and I do not make sense as

          you did not see the doe

          nor heard the bulbs

          nor climbed to find those spines.

I went to the ocean this week,

          to the forest, the desert, and the caldera

          and Max I went alone

          and Max I returned, sincerely.