the peak's ice beckons/ inviting you to try for

the peak's ice beckons
inviting you to try for
the impossible places
the vertical palaces
your eye can see
that would confer
such a lonely splendor
if you were up there
as if immortal bathed
in endless light

a lonely feeling
comes and goes
in the mind
of the climber

then a kind
of exaltation

most unspoken
thus unsullied


***

the best moments/ i forgot myself

the best moments
i forgot myself
or how to be

instead i was steady
as light through
stained glass

or as playful
as the very
reflections



^^^

the trees all the same height/ palais-royal--

the trees all the same height

palais-royal

when snow

fell gently measuring these all all

while silence

was keenly felt

and forgotten umbrella

forgotten


***

the heavens were the highest/ here where i found them on earth

the heavens were the highest
here where i found them on earth
amid secondhand buildings and
with those who had no glamour

they taught me the hidden inexhaustible
mysterious purity of this mumbled
worrisome place an existence not to
be taken seriously but a little deliriously

what does that mean where is it at?
how can we find meaningful life
if we live heedlessly or give up on
the concrete lies we've all owned

birds and fields garages and lakes
roadways and paths weeds and bijous
sometimes gathering up other times
falling away with the zest of god


***

enough words/ live up to something/ like one day

enough words
live up to something
like one day

*

the day make it
bright
fine sailing

*

the day
have it be
applause

bells

notes

greetings

big hugs

day have
it be

new horizons

paper origami

gratitude

a smile

**

this is my soul/ i know it when i am sleeping

this is my soul
i know it when i am sleeping

in the mind of dream
all is clear and unfrozen

elated


time can run free
dead flowers blooming

at waking we are pinioned
by unwavering duty or form

old sensibilities
to their tasks

impressed by the stamp
of servant




**

a scattering of flakes/ over the house

a scattering of flakes
over the house
                     snow
that vanishes when
wind picks up
and dawn is here


**

paper bees make/ honey the color of highlighters

paper bees make
honey the color of highlighters
in pencil combs

beekeeping
on a pad of paper
comfort of imagination

flowers everywhere
here in the room
of furniture fields and trees


***

it needs some work the house/ wants some tender loving care

it needs some work the house
wants some tender loving care
not complaining but the mute
walls have taken some strain
witnessed stalemates that were
not foreordained but determined
tantrums or just silences

with painting and patching
straightening refinishing
it could have new laughter
gazes presents gatherings
music dancing conversations
that go all night long while
gardens sleep and ideas grow

then the snow will fall happy
and the yard will embrace it
the roof will be like wings
every window merry
trees over threshold golden
all the rooms blessed


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