I Really Am Thrown Open (July 30, 2010)

I really am thrown open
for I must be at my vision
curious and watchful,
eyes following
A widening stream of pale
some wondrously winding
from head to heart
the presence everywhere
still I wait
a dry shallow
on the stone steps
for an invitation.

And Now I Will Begin Again (July 29, 2010)

And now I will
begin again,
Another time bow
instinct leaning the
brave young tree
already There are momre
human beings
Each one following
the ancestor journey,
the rivers flow from ice
We Pass,
hand in hand,
into mere empty moons

Standing There (July 28, 2010)

standing there
with a hint of
gracious poise
I thought of you
so familiar
and of all the years
that led to this day
every hour a
slow reckoning

I Settled Down For The Night (July 27, 2010)

I settled down for the night
in the tall pines
with a searching gaze
A remote glow in the lacy black
as from some ancient distance
these beckoning stars blazing bright
their silence startling

But Do You Not See (July 26, 2010)

But do you not see that
the message
can come to you
a small gentleness,
beneath a star-guided sky
like A thin curl of smoke
revealed in
the darkness

Nothing Stirred In the Distant (July 25, 2010)

nothing stirred
in the distant
deeply clustered wood
the roll of papyrus hidden
a page from some
remote Remembering
words winding far away,
from branch to branch
a long line
moving back into time

Every Disguise Is A Wish (July 24, 2010)

every disguise
is a wish
to be recognized

Always More Swiftly (July 23, 2010)

always more swiftly
the day repossessed.
such a brief measure
the shifting glance
crossing the ocean
again and again
returning with the
first pale streaks of dawn

The Rock (July 22, 2010)

The rock
such a being soft gray,
remained where it was,
and clung
large, chunky and heavy,
since the outset of measuring
Almost the weight of
warm flesh

I Am Becoming The Slender Birch (July 21, 2010)

I am becoming
the slender birch
trunk swaying under
every small breath of wind
I prefer embroidered white
more at home with
a kind of dusk
my blood running deep
beneath the ordinary

When The Evening Light (July 20, 2010)

When the evening light
is glowed with gleaming
and every path is velvet gold
I feel some helpless quivering,
a mindful moment
in this life of grace

Fumbling And Turning (July 19, 2010)

Fumbling and turning
make beauty out of language.
embroider a river strewn
with words
braided thread on empty pages
a maze of mirrors stretched
beyond my breath
overcome, But I come back again
wait for the wind to fall,
Tell me
what is knowing

Nothing Has Been Coming (July 18, 2010)

Nothing has been coming,
the sight of the graces
sinuous twisting
In a corner
I keep a certain
silent scrutiny unti Aha!
At Once delight.
delicate threads,
of a pattern not recognized
still--what does it mean?

We Must Not Say (July 17, 2010)

we must not say
Our bones are powder.
I am much time inquistive
and How quickly you move.
sliding along in silent reverence,
between this moment of joy
and the depths of gratitude
aloof
a shadow looming in
this day is only momentarily
your own

Are You Really A Prince? (July 16, 2010)

are you really a prince?
You must have lived
as one who has breathed
unaware of the subject.
dare to try?

If You Ever See Too Much (July 15, 2010)

If you ever see
too much
at once
gazing at some
just found knowledge
turn away Lifting
one eye upon the treetops,
reach further
look past
remember the hidden fountains
silver in the
morning mist.

They Tell Me (July 14, 2010)

they tell me
In the midst of
stately trees and
hedges green
flower falling to the grass.
I will find my
shattered wings,
among the sound of
fading stones
The flutter of
My forgotten

Down Through The Darkness (July 13, 2010)

down
through the darkness.
long mirrored corridors,
alight, radiant
the Enchanted portal.
more and more
face to face
"Who is there?"
It is I,
summoning a dream.
Always the same longing
in all the world
alone

Go West Comb The Plains (July 12, 2010)

go west
comb the plains
Sometimes the woods
gaze. the radiance
all colors widen
into white.
then laugh
in a blundering dialect
until wilted
out of air.

How Do You Guess (July 11, 2010)

How do you guess
a number
The stars
their every movement,
a secret voice
like the earth's silence
Why do you carry
a farewell memory
When the time comes
give us more time

Call Me Tape Measure (July 10, 2010)

call me
tape measure
I was just changing
the distance to
ten thousand Far out stars
splendid
the count has grown
a surprising leap
What do you know

Visit An Ancient-Looking Thought (Poem by Stephen Black, July 5, 2010)

The other night we had some friends from out of town over for dinner and our friend Stephen Black took up the challenge to create a found text poem there at my desk.  Here is Missouri Bend Paper Work's first guest found poem, by the wonderful artist/printmaker Stephen Black!

visit an ancient-looking thought. Below
forget What is the matter
You will remember       the window sill among
Inwardly, lights forgetting ancient places,
and always leading one day   I   have said,
then in an instant  If you will grow again.

Aha--Just The Thing! (July 9, 2010)

Aha--just the thing!
for matters of state importance,
somersaults, as is the custom
to amuse the people as they wait
with no recognition
Excellent! Amazing!

I Am Here On The Plains (July 8, 2010)

I am here
on the plains
opened arms outstretched
wind-floated
who can tell the distance
this moment of wonder
dance with the
wild movement of the grasses,
slowly
the sunlight slipped
so near gone,
I bring you silence
and the first
brilliant star.

Catching Wrongs and Hurt (July 7, 2010)

Catching wrongs and hurt
into a saucer
gesture
a touch upon the shoulder
glance,
a quickly understanding
and
why not burst into laughter
more willingly

Tell What Did You See (July 6, 2010)

tell what did you see
a thing of wistful dimension
done quickly,
Yes, I had forgotten!
the importance of
lying around things.
If I am
eyes from one to the other
real and delightful
our journey is
the birth of revelation

I Wish For Wings (July 5, 2010)

I wish for wings
so curious to see
the shadowy lingering
voices from the past,
into the forest of the night
With a deep remembered wonder
their blood within you,
and after how describe,
what has occurred?

Stand Still (July 4, 2010)

stand still. Stand still!
I have come to measure
the intervening stars
Through the distant
sounds of music
Listen.
A rich and dark and haunting.
At length a long breath.

That Night Sky and Sea (July 3, 2010)

That night
sky and sea.
within touching distance
the brilliance hovered
some far reflection.
from the ancient torchlight
and I surrounded
all of eternity whispered

I Moved The Dust Of History (July 2, 2010)

I moved
the dust of history
into a secret bundle
In the name of all the
faint fragrance of years past,
it was to remain
At the entrance
of the sky
for the first star
of twilight.

In The End (July 1, 2010)

In the end
circumstances broken,
dropped from the box,
that characteristic crimson
trouble on the veranda stirred
as though a wish for relish
mention one more chance
up the ladder beyond until
conveyed, billowing in the
wind