The Photo Album
for Venie and Emma
II
This picture is Venie and Emma,
asleep, face to face, bond of their bond,
the bonds of growth, the bond
of a mother liberating her daughter,
the lines that needles through
life unseen, unwordable.
III
In this picture Emma blows bubbles
into the clear blue air with a coat
hanger loop, watches them
neatly wrap the skin of air, drift up,
become one with the wind.
III
The uncountable
are starched photos,
mending
the broken walls
is an art
of the heart,
where memories
grows.
X
The past needle's eye
who has gone through it?
Look at this photo
taken many years ago,
imagination reborn,
feeling ignited.
The fly is befuddled
by the spider web.
XII
Every moment captured
in time, mystifies life,
pin down at flight,
all that seem is stripped
to its element,
ships anchor to bedrocks
stay afloat in storm,
the photograph keeps one
from drifting into forgetfulness.
XIII
The Mahogany knows their root
by root, mirror has defects,
mirror has no memory of all seen,
history intuits life.
Bring all the photos
from the bookshelf, from old boxes,
sit, brush away the dust
on years' reflection.
Half way
In the path’s corner,
small insects
scurry into leaf’s hide out.
Same outlook
on light, or who else has
a transparent roof?
Even those who live
in glass houses
have curtains.
Rhythm
On the beach,
people write on sands,
delight in words,
transient as smoke.
The rock pealing’s
impossible.
Still the tides thrust,
as a mason's mallet.
Rhythm makes sense
of every things.
Dear Afric
III
Dear Afric,
it’s 4:43 am, I sit long,
and observe
the coming of dawn,
sole listener
to the morning birds,
sing their parts,
clear note on air,
lightly, staccato's tune,
thin on ear,
as squeaking hinges
of un-oiled door.
IX
Dear Afric, it’s 5:5 am
I live in an apartment on my own
by the roadside of an obscure street.
My windows are full open.
The sound of my fridge and clocks
feint over the calmness of the world.
Breeze falls on my skin
light as fluff, light as breath on skin.
Sleep unifies symmetries.
Take down the scaffolding,
take down silence,
Everything loose and drift apart.
Friends Dart
II
Slant the words
of mind's blinding thoughts.
In the street, strangers talk,
nice on summer's heat.
So safe in their company.
What's unknown is unknown.
Friend's arrow is sharpest,
pierce deep the heart,
hurt’s broken rib. Delicate
molluscs tent in carapace.
Vindication
Late night hang out spots on the rise,
chatting is convenient,
it is easier to follow than to dream.
Laughter's necessary as a good turn,
as air we pour into our lungs,
sweet as coconut, sweet as wine.
Phrases weave in conversation,
listening's ingenious, patience on a letter’s rule,
mirror reflects light, soundless, heatless,
clouds drink to swell, give rain,
right words are scarce,
the first right is to remain silent.
Motion
Chew sweet gum,
swallow bitter pill,
word's target as dart's
as game of golf's,
wonder how it will be
to fly and never perch,
shoot and never miss,
sink as deep as the root
of shepard's Tree,
as the challenger Deep
in the Mariana Trench.
Timelessness
II
Happiness
sought by all,
queue unseen, unmentioned,
unwordable.
Heart's healing
comes to those in broken places,
the river forget
the tides
that never reaches
the shore.
III
Who's has never been tinged
with emotion?
Bones, flesh
have their own craving.
One quick flash
of surprise pop
open the minds
as wine bottles,
to the unmentionable,
the unbelievable.
XII
When lost
at crossroad,
sides
doesn't matter,
either way
leads to an end,
a beginning,
something better.
XIII
hunters with hats
meditate through the forest,
days come and go
on moth's wing.
Sailors navigate
in wild waters.
Sinking is an art
into the self.
XV
Shine your eyes,
people say in the Delta,
keeps oneself
in vigilance.
Who knows
what the heart
imagines?
Flutter quickly,
bumble bees
get the body off
the ground,
overlook gravity,
one falls.
Friend's thought
revealed
in need,
the river moves
away slow
as worm.
Firm hand shake,
shields
not the back.
Freeing Fish
1
In Delta
swamp,
fish swallows
worm
knitted
in hook.
2
Fish ties
the hook’s rope
to grass
underwater.
barnacles
itself
to grass
underwater.