Sunday, June 30, 2013

Rite


Rite



This is no mistake --
And cheaper than butchering 
A beast.

The river reels;
Wheels stick in the mire,
The ox's tail gets wet.

Be still.
This offering is equal 
To your neighbor's.

Listen: 
Pipers pipe the feast.




Sunday, June 23, 2013

Memorial Day

Feeling somewhat righteous
On my knees, suddenly, it came to me --
Who will clean my grave
When I am gone
Beneath the dusty stone?
Who will find the time?
I know: none. Not one.
For all my young, it's not in you
To brood on what is gone.
Don't get me wrong.
You remember, you do,
Then let it pass on by.
My mountain grave --
Grow high with rose (with hope)
To overtake the rue.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

So Dear



So Dear


Everywhere, next day, I looked 
For that helpless speckled thing,
Patient forest babe, all ears and eyes, 
Watching, waiting, staying.
Gone, as I had hoped, gone 
From underneath the tree
To walk beside her mother. 
Before long, she will walk alone, 
Gambol, jump and play.
I hope she sees another day. 
I hope she comes to stay
Where she was born, 
Where she lay beneath 
The Blue Spruce tree with me.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Deep

El Yunque National Park


Deep

How breach the invitation
Of the blackgreen dark?
How stay the shade around me?
Green-gold light above,
Surf-green blue below,
Viridian that wraps me like a gift.
I dive between the leaves,
Swim along the trees, agile as a fish.
My ultimate desire, my most fervent wish:
Deep. Green.