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”
Category Archives: poetry
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”
Sky Jewelry
In the wee hoursthe stars blanketed the skythe Milky Way stretchedand constellation rhinestonespunctuated the darkness The stars in Colorado were incredible. We were lucky with the moon (I’m guessing it was either pretty new or rising very, VERY late, or maybe both). The photo I’m using for this post wasn’t made there – this wasContinue reading “Sky Jewelry”
Wild Parrots
a flock of parrotsconcealed in the old quarryon their own missiona flight on green summer wingsurban tropical surprise While we were visiting the mission, this poem happened! This is the second time we have seen wild parrots somewhere we would never have expected it (the first was around a large rain puddle in a parkingContinue reading “Wild Parrots”
Affogato
Somewhere the hens who laid the eggs whose yolks became custard at our stove are clucking around in free range happiness, considering their next morsel. Farther away, the wind is blowing through the coffee plants, a thunderstorm approaching over the mountains to shake and rattle every bean on the plantation when it rolls through. TheContinue reading “Affogato”
The Poetry Patio 