He picks up vowels and consonants,
shape and form as the subject
of his fingers: dextrous

and facile, exploring
the impossible fragrances
of jasmine or lily.

He starts with the white nouns,
the basic folds in his alphabet;
then come the verbs
rustling in blue pleats,
and the adjectives forming
themselves into pink creases.

Working with his second
sight of crisp ...