26 August 2012

villanelle for an adult birthday


now say good riddance to the year gone by
at one more fading of the foolish light
with full rejoicing that you did not die

tomorrow sun will rise on the same sky
and yours will be the task to get things right
now say good riddance to the year gone by

do not dwell long on how it seemed to fly
right past your thought and your diminished might
with full rejoicing that you did not die

get on your feet and led the hard words lie
just keep in mind that things could be less bright
now say good riddance to the year gone by

and get on with the stuff you can't deny
the tasks the pile up and the work not slight
with full rejoicing that you did not die

in dreamless sleep where all thought had run dry
you live for now don't rush the longest night
now say good riddance to the year gone by
with full rejoicing that you did not die

22 August 2012

The doctor bird


On knutsford boulevard the doctor bird
Sips nectar from the blossoms in the noise
Of passing traffic and the tall absurd
Motions of people yet the creature's poise
Is magical unaltered by the place
Or human action honest of its kind
But still as brutal does not steal its grace
Restoring beauty in a time that's blind
To this reality there's one more cast
That memory had woken an older tale
Of pain and loss from a forgotten past
Where all the goods must come at end to fail
Yet truth will flutter on a humming wing
Asking the heart in spite of all to sing

08 August 2012

the longest groan


so much to do but go lie in the sun
and watch the clouds observe each changing shape
while looking upward with your mouth agape
allow the world to go by on the run
there are so many tasks that must be done
but not today there's time for one escape
from sordid duty take some rest and drape
your body on the bench just have some fun
soon you'll encounter the familiar task
hear the old words and even older lies
plunge back into the service of the known
to answer all the questions that they ask
hope to awaken light behind fresh eyes
and heal the causes of the longest groan