amyjasek

Absalom

Faulkner is a heavy weight of old grievancesunresolved, the fester of yearsburning an indignant holein a pocket full of rusty nailsthe bitter smell left upon thefingers that reach insidea taste like blood on the tongue It’s my Mother’s words about the familyhow her Daddy was the twin born lastseparated by mere momentsfrom the seat ofContinue reading “Absalom”

Rush

my neighbor cut down his treeafter it fell into his fence during a stormso now I can see the sky as I lie in bedthe clouds are moving fastin a hurry to end this hot dry month from the bald stump,the tree is pushing back upwith a quickness, a thousand saplingsrising from the one oldContinue reading “Rush”

Late July

August is knocking at the doora hot mess of back-to-schoolwith new shoes, pencils, anda new backpack It used to be thatkids got to run wildduring the dog days,endless sprinkler partiesand popsicle sleepovers Now they are luckyfor any vacation, any gaspsof time blissfully awayfrom the hard thumb of authority,the arch and watchful eyeof educational agendas,the crackContinue reading “Late July”

Summer Burn

all season we flew close to the firewhen a puff of wind put out a flamewe hurried to re-light the wick,digging it out of the wax,from end to end,never minding the singed wings but in the endfire still burnsthe fierce factory of the sunwill not be deniedthe old barrel gets lopsidedfrom being rolled outagainagainand againContinue reading “Summer Burn”

At the Airport

traffic flows like a riverthe escalators are tributariesferrying passengers inand out of the main stream giant baggage bouldersmake rapids giant metal aquatic birdsdip downmake depositsdrink deep they leave againwith full belliesmigrating to the nextasphalt pond A little poem written while I waited at baggage claim at the airport. Thank you for reading!

Fucus canaliculatus (pelvetia) – channel wrack, Dúlamán

Brave branches gracefullyattending the daily fluxmingling with the grassesthat dance atop the salty cliffs Hear your fronds singwhen you come up for air:gentle daughter,feed me in my time of needguide this travelerinto the beautiful shoesthat enliven my path The research for this last poem in my series based on Anna Atkins’ cyanotypes took me downContinue reading “Fucus canaliculatus (pelvetia) – channel wrack, Dúlamán”

Laminaria saccharina – sugar kelp, tangle, Devil’s apron

Cold water comfortsweet forest homefor secret wide-eyed water-dartersnow a tangle-rooted knifeupon the page Would the devil wear youaround his fiery wasteas he prowled among the shore? Let the waves push thatunwelcome long fellow backinto the deep,where time’s corruption waits Just one more left in my Anna Atkins’ cyanotype ekphrastic series! Last poem will run tomorrow.Continue reading “Laminaria saccharina – sugar kelp, tangle, Devil’s apron”

Cytoseira fibrosa (baccata) – berry-like

Little lemons full of airrafts pulling delicate lifefrom the depth of pools,branches floating toward the lightwhite berries in a wash of bluestill firing connections,still holding tightly to the common thread This is the third poem in my series based on Cyanotypes by Anna Atkins. Thank you for reading!

Himanthalia lorea (elongata) – Sea thong / Sea spaghetti

How you chase the daylightas it departs at the end of the yearshooting out among the rocksto leave your markbefore the moon pulls you,gathering deep pilesin great sandy knotsworthy of our efforts to untie Foodie beach delight,noodle-heaped upon a plate This poem is the second in my series of ekphrastic writing on cyanotypes by AnnaContinue reading “Himanthalia lorea (elongata) – Sea thong / Sea spaghetti”

Laminaria digitata – Oarweed

Great hand, whose fingersraked through the seano longer holding fastbut now your ghost displayedas it reached for the suna dream of the meadowswhere your brothers and sistersswayed with applausedelight of urchins,a tidal clapbreaking free to rush alongsideswarthy boats,palm to palm with the oars I’m not sure how much of a deal I’ve made about itContinue reading “Laminaria digitata – Oarweed”