Beauty Cottonwood trees, John Lennon’s “Imagine,” Sunsets. It occurs to us, we are sometimes blind to beauty. A crowded market. The genuine laughter of children. We barely sleep, dreaming only of all the “togetherness” coming our way. What do people even smell like anymore? Our mother’s bosom feels nearer to a stranger. We fall toContinue reading “Beauty”
Tag Archives: poetry
the curious nature of childhood
The Curious Nature Of Childhood a soul inside a body that falls from a bicycle blood flows from skinned knees, gravel under skin birds-eye view The me that watched the me that wondered: “Will I be in trouble?” “Does Karma know I left my friend’s house late?” what is disobedience if not genuine forgetfulness anContinue reading “the curious nature of childhood”
A World Set Ablaze
A World Set Ablaze We are burning. A world set ablaze, by “Us and Them.” We no longer recognize, friend from foe. The mounting lies and half-truths sicken us, make loathsome borders about our hearts. We fan the flames of division, speak without thought. Tempt ignorance. A fractured whole, this ruptured core an inferno. ThisContinue reading “A World Set Ablaze”
what is a stage?
What is a stage? A playwright, set to move you. A pin drop. Twirling and spinning, a woven tale, threads of a life gone by. We pull and pull, unravel each little tragedy. We dance on those graves. We tear about, make mess of it all. We pick up the pieces, the humour, everywhere. Don’tContinue reading “what is a stage?”
Seeing Through the Trees
I miss Saturday road trips in my old car. A stick-shift silver Volvo, with cracked leather seats and a busted overdrive. Nothin’ better than Paul Simon, a packed lunch and a book, noon-bound for China Beach. The twisted, turning roads, listening to “Diamonds On the Soles of Her Shoes,” full blast. I’d sing and driveContinue reading “Seeing Through the Trees”
Sedona
Sedona a curved lizard sleeps quietly on a rock orients itself to the influence of heat a slow heart, gentle earth pulse hiss, click, rattle, things unseen scurry about, seeking grub and insect, a rare bead of moisture the cak cak of a Cooper’s hawk echoes from a distant canyon makes for a kind ofContinue reading “Sedona”
poetry pre-requisite
poetry pre-requisite make inferences: Koyczan, Cohen, Crozier then none at all sit with Morton, expose your roots plant thoughts in the earth of your words and cultivate them study Pelman, to travel the world make of your work, a train station journey there, stay awhile, leave remember home, light through the window seek out heirloomsContinue reading “poetry pre-requisite”
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
No poem today— save that of a turned head, tilted to listen an open mind, called to question a considerate heart, tasked to act. ~ Emily Olsen Unites Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People Article 12 1.”Indigenous people have the right to manifest, practise, develop and teach their spiritual and religious traditions, customsContinue reading “United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”
there are stars
there are stars though we wish to burst forth, unleash our shared love in supernova feel again, the pulse of one another together in perfect proximity the waning is not yet complete though it feels like light years endure this blue-moon time though it feels like light years embrace this exceptional longing— it is notContinue reading “there are stars”
the miracle before me
the miracle before me a crescendo of strings and horn harken the river blue my heart is overjoyed by the beautiful Danube this confluence of sound and my want for hearing it an exultation the moment before this waltz the world prior to any creation this composers ink to paper a miracle
appreciation of beauty
Appreciation of Beauty beauty the perfection of good timing and déjá vu the heart beating in your chest a prayer beauty a newspaper, curled down on one side, your Grandfather winking at you as you giggle, close your mouth, and remember to eat your cornflakes quieter this time beauty this human form spring rain aContinue reading “appreciation of beauty”
that they may know
that they may know I teach my children through music Ella Fitzgerald Dizzy Gillespie Nina Simone because the things I think I know like dust and scratches provide no resonance I teach my children stereo and mono show them a steady hand how to place the needle in the pause before a song the quietContinue reading “that they may know”
Guidance
Guidance Dear body: breathe eagerness into my life, make keen this vessel bestowed upon me. Dear spirit: evoke in me expressions of joy, delight in a contented nature. Dear mind: manifest the truthful unfolding of my reality, and direct and govern my thoughts with discipline. Dear heart: soften me when I become hard, make gentleContinue reading “Guidance”
Into the Mystic
grief found me today through a Van Morrison song tears as I went about my chores a flood of memories dust particles dance about the room above your collection of vinyl each album packed neatly into a tower of milk crates “Blue,” “Kind of Blue,” “Lady Sings the Blues,” a small maroon Buddha keeps yourContinue reading “Into the Mystic”
Settler
Settler I am vine of English Ivy working my way across the forest floor encroaching on every space a colony of green unhindered I plant roots, shallow but insidious I invade I claim everywhere, everything still, I have to be sure these trees, like mountains or rivers, are too, mine for the taking like slitheringContinue reading “Settler”
tender mercy, an exploration with the inner child
tender mercy – an exploration with the inner child when we finally met it felt like I knew you the ease at which our pain ceased in those early days together, made way for many possibilities later, pain emerged we caused it in each other, worked out our demons, we drudged up, dragged out pushedContinue reading “tender mercy, an exploration with the inner child”
a dedication
a dedication If you’re reading this Cody Graham, I’m working on it. You know, “the book,” the one you asked me to dedicate to you in our high school writing class? I’m nearing 43 years old now. Words scattered about in various journals, boxes, notes on my phone, the google drive.You can see it onContinue reading “a dedication”
Water
water when I was a child I loved to swim and there is something about being underwater that feels right for me and sometimes even now I let myself imagine I am underwater again where every piece of me is wrapped and held and I am young once more and then comes that moment whenContinue reading “Water”
Steadfast
Steadfast Remember the back of your grandmother’s hands, her life, a wrinkle of lines your mother’s mother burst forth from stars through radio waves, rockets, and rebellion to meet you In her time, bombs created constellations then fell in formation around her heart Decades of war cast shadows on her bones but from them she forgedContinue reading “Steadfast”