Achunal the aleuts call it. Israelis say רוּחַ.
In Spain, they curse el viento tearing at hats and dresses
but matacabras, goat killer, infuriates the shepherd
while angin or lilit in Malay mystifies most outsiders:
Are there distinct names for degree, duration or character?
Like a picnic zephyr delights an English gent or ahe a Hawaiian.
Puhe denotes the ordinary, common or imperceptible island condition.
When apples fly forcefully, a Russian complains of ветреный ветер.
What is the word for the puff left leafing pages in a book?
The sea brings Kadja in Bali sweeping aside sand softly
like a cat’s paw over the pond in the back bay.
But no, I’d never be caught dead in a Cock-Eyed-Bob down under.
Not while the night coromell caresses California’s toes this time of year
past Diablo and the doldrums thrumming silence into an ear
merely at the thought of a place where nothing tossles hair, moves air
carries a wink and knowing stare caught glimpsing a drifting folded paper:
unraveled, it reveals your name, wordless moan escaping a window.
What is the name of your child, Shu?
In the gaze of the other 