Surfaces
partial poem / work in progress | iphone photo by author
I wish I could float (with the clouds)
not so much with but abovenot so much the earthbut my expectationsleaving them below likeunrecognizable neighborhoodsfrom an airplane windowa float full of nothingbut airy vacancylight as a unicorn onthe surface of a swimming poolclouds shining in the reflectionlike stolid trees on the façadeof a…
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The Darts of August
photo by author (canon digital, lensbaby burnside 35 lens)
as the archer, you point arrows, fulfilling some sacred oathelastic and flying, half-transcendental,seeking mending from thistledown, they bloom brighter than merciless skiesfinding the line in the sand while seashells bleachand the 150 year old banyan tree tells how to withdraw a sword from a backyard stone
This poem is a Cento, made…
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Buffalo
Caprock Canyon State Park, TX | polaroid photo by author
there’s something sacred about a canyonhow the land gave way to river powerwater’s carrying works will never be done
some majesty gets measured by the tonlips that graze are busy every hourin their bones they understand the canyon
acknowledging sacredness in actionwhere rainfall meets land, and time empowersthe water to carve and never…
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Smokies, 2
Polaroid photo by author (Great Smoky Mountains National Park)
Illusion hillssmoke signals further visionblanket memory, summer-warmconsciousness dreaminga boulder for a pillowbattling angelsto climb ladderseverything leaves a marklow-rounded, still-sacredsome of those illusionscarry ancient namessome of them carrythe bones of the sky
I love how mountains fade into the distance, how it hardly…
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Blue Beach
Polaroid photo by author (Nag’s Head, NC – I think!)
the boy doestricks the woman
stands watchingthe sand is
too foot-steppedto notice the
camera makesthem all
silhouettes watchingthe sand
is everywhereplaying tricks
This poem is a companion piece to the one I published on Tupelo Press’ website today for the August 30/30 Project. You can read the other poem (a villanelle) here:
THE…
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Pinehurst
Polaroid Photo by author | Pinehurst, NC
Golf townsand and spapines and pubscoddled traditions and legendsaround every corner
My Grand-merealways spoke of azaleassparkles in her milky eyesand soft hands arounda pottery cup of chicory coffee
another timeanother placeanother south
This poem is a second one that I wrote for the photo, with the villanelle being shared on Tupelo Press’ website for…
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Coffin House
Jared Coffin House, Nantucket | instant film photo by author
Glass-eyed Narcissus hidingtoo tall for me to see himin his past place abiding
The summer days go slidinga boat upon the pond skimsglass-eyed Narcissus hiding
its deceptive depths, chidingobsession’s inviting grinin its sin-seat abiding
What seeking brings is findingwith a cup full to the brimstill spy Narcissus hiding
Hours…
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Pine
Instax wide photo by author | Colorado
Padded quiet morning, herewhere life has barely thawed outthe birds wait to raise a cheer
to summer. Sunshine appearswith warmth, flexing its new cloutin the padded morning. Here
and there flying bugs appearbut the earth-dwellers have doubtsand birds wait to sound the cheer.
Chased by needling cold fearspine doesn’t worry aboutmuch here, soaks up the…
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Shadows
Taos, NM | polaroid photo by author
break it down, where the lightfinds the failing fallen,ignited by shadows
broken patterns alightwithin the frame’s swollenhollows, flushed with light
where geometry’s tightcourse follows peaks and glenswaves will find the shadows
in the doorway hope fightsfeeling sorrow takenpast breaking down. The light
will flush away the blightburning away…
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Cimmaron
Cimmaron, NM | Polaroid photo by author
End of the mountains, the end of the line.Dad used to say “the dead center of town.”The old bones resting here have done their time.
Now they gaze out at the prairie, the fineendless grasses wave back. A man could drownin those mountains. He has to hold the line
until it breaks, then hold on longer. Twineis good but faith is stronger. Dad’s short…
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Line Dance
Gruene Hall | digital photo by author
Rhythm jivesto consonantpercussionfoot stomp to the letterkeeping timestaying inline with a heeltoe, and somethingin the hipsdon’t forget to breathe
syncopated surprisesprying an extrabeat, a kindof additiveslipped in like asqueezeof lime in a cocktailwhen you need a
break
make it
if chanceasks you for a dancetake it
Part of the experience of…
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Fundraiser Incentives!
I am back again today to talk about the 30/30 project I’m participating in for Tupelo Press, and to offer incentives for your dear, wonderful, generous donations! The writing is going well so far – in the sense that I am happy with what I’m producing and *also* really enjoying reading the work of my fellow poets. You can check out the project here.
My goal is to raise $350. I won’t see a penny…
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Summer writing
iphone photo by author
This summer, in advance of the road trips I went on, I made lists of focus words to help me with my writing. Two of the places I had been to before: Mueller State Park in Colorado and Abiquiu in New Mexico. Since they were familiar to me, I was able to generate a short list of things that I think about when I consider each location.
I started with Colorado, since I was…
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Kittens
iphone photo by author (meet Moby and Beans!)
The day begins with energy renewedwhen rising sun peeps between the curtainsa lively cycle has already bloomed
In half-light dawn with some yawning, subdued,the dozy moment won’t last, that’s certainsince overnight their energy renewed
As soon as those bright eyelids are ungluedrecharged by sleep, ready again for funthe lively cycle re-bursts into…
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Can you hear the tales mountains tell?
Polaroid photo by author
Listen!In that smoky breaththere are a host of storieswritten in spirit lettersthat masquerade as cloudold stories like old ghostsdrawn up from the root of the world
The tales are seeds nowtossed up with creative energyfrom moldy fern on weathered floorto the wind that still blows as itblew long ago when these roundedfurry hills were lofty peaks and crags
Listen: time…
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A Poetry Marathon!
Pinhole film photo by author
Friends, I have exciting news! For the month of August, I am taking part in a 30/30 project for Tupelo Press, a non-profit, independent publisher.
What does that mean? I’ll be writing, and publishing, a poem-a-day for the entire month, and, in return for the gracious support of the Press, I will be doing my best to raise money for them. It’s a terrific challenge for…
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Summer, Part I
Greetings friends! It’s been a wild summer already, and it isn’t even halfway finished yet. I am recently back from the first of two trips: the first one was a road trip that went through the DFW area, up to Wichita Falls, into the Panhandle via Caprock Canyon and Palo Duro, then on to Colorado and New Mexico. It was a doozie, just about two weeks, with 8 nights of camping in 3 locations plus a…
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