my eyes open
and the barest shrug of light persuades me
I am awake
seems the argument weakens though
as daytime hours collapse upon themselves
as my thoughts muddy the sky
and my questions dry up like autumn leaves
colorless
shreds of life
discarded and dragged
along windblown sidewalks
by unthinking galoshes
and I nod off
just before neighborhood windows
ignite
a poem that I wrote today
about the wind
has blown away
my similes
once children clapping
became their pillowed smiles
when napping
meanwhile
I’m left counting words
which skitter swift
as hummingbirds
oh a poem is a fleeting thing
a trace of music on the wing
glinting sunlight in the eye
whispered prayer
blissful sigh
moment’s grace
frowny face
heartbeat beating
delightfilled
fleeting
night settles around me
warm and inviting
until I snuggle down
into its velvetine fur
a trusting child
eager to release
the weight and weariness
day imposes upon us all
eager to let fly
the ribbon of consciousness
night’s clumsy paw
keeps retrieving for me
(for Meri)
when she was born
I thought of everything I’d give her:
colored pencils for sketching
like her great-grandma Julia
pastel paints
like her grandma June
and Contee crayons
like her Dad
she took the ballet lessons
I always wanted
and practiced the piano
like I failed to
she chose to be a teacher
a teacher and a Mom
like me
and the too-tight blazer
I handed off to her today
fits her perfectly
I knew a little boy
who grew up without calendars
counting the months until his next birthday
time was a stream for him
flowing day by day
to nowhere
no landmarks
distinguished one shore from another
for him
every hour wore the same face
no calendar
no clock
no talk about seasons coming
or fading into the past
because there was no past
and no future
until the little boy
was rescued by Love
disguised as a man
a man who understands
each day is a gift
and some gifts
just naturally
come in boxes
blame the sun
if I’ve spent my day
thinking
and blinking
and wanting to play
blame the sun
and the blue
blue sky
if I lazed about
Dazed about
with only a sigh
for the winds will be commin
dark days keep me bummin
every day will be rainin
everyone a-complainin
let’s ignore dust motes sailin
read
and write poems braillin
in this moment
that’s scarcely begun
let the wind kiss your cheek
fiercely love
don’t be meek
blame the sun
blame the sun
blame the sun
something stirs me
like the spoon in my cup
wrestles liquefied almonds into coffee soup
but not like that at all
not blending
not dissolving
one identity into another
not blurring for the sake
of obliterating personalities
stirring
throwing everything into the air
to better perceive each element
like the wind stirs autumn leaves
after you’ve raked them into compliant piles
like a rambunctious child
who pulls her older sister into the circle
to dance the Horah
whirling and tripping with delight
with such energy
such frenzied fun
everyone on the sidelines
can’t help watching
only her
can’t help singling out
her spasms of laughter
can’t help clapping along
whistling and stomping
maybe even writing a poem
if only trees bent low enough
to catch my sighing
amid these broken syllables
if only doves wove their nests
of longing too real
for me to express
if only the wind knelt
beside me whispering
in the still dreamless forest
dawning will come
I know
but for now
the world is veiled
like a beautiful maiden
her eyes may be visible
sparkling and inviting
like stars in the heavens they speak to you
of eternal secrets and delights
you might catch a frown
or even a twinkle
but her full scowl is hidden
as is her toothy grin
when you read my words
you are likely to find mysterious
marks upon the page
looking like dimples
in the margins
smudges and smears
between syllables
don’t be dismayed
and don’t feel persuaded
to scamper more quickly
along the breadcrumb trail
or to linger longer
with honeybees
among clover and wildflowers
it’s only me
weeping for joy
as your face comes close
only me overflowing
with delight
to whisper in your ear
