True North

 And to think there must be a source

 left unaware and responsible 

besides, who else, with the string of clouds

moves towards intermission.

It is time for us to be together

 to go to the screen.

 To get caught up 

in the fullness of the day.

No more to reckon 

in the empty house of Romantics.

One surveys the land and finds the grass

 is much taller over there.

 That this very afternoon is hot enough

 to muffle the exchanges

 between the wildflowers.,

 One stands for something,

each other,

at least something living.

To wait for the light 

to pass on into berries.

Or each time a hard aim

to open the book  

to the same page

the same passage and to send

only its strange encouragements.

New Century Poem

The seasons

beautifully involved, 

lovely like elevators, 

who never thought to get off

at the next stop. 

Who thought the party 

was always there.

The lamps were on.

The glasses arrange themselves 

in the green light. 

A familiar spirit 

changes into a hush 

on the hills in the evening. 

When the room darkens,

 and one can see no farther 

than the face in the window 

it is as if a century has passed.

People in the theater 

waltz out from their seats 

as the lights turn on 

and new ones waltz in.

First Fiction in Film

 I remember you were wearing purple

as the tangerine sun lit room

Accented the crochet. I was six.

The day continued.

 I stopped looking.

The orange cat was always around.

I ran around the table

The pictures capture that.

Also, you waving into the camera.

And teaching others to say hello.

To pose. To walk slowly.

To pretend to walk before

Stepping on to your plane

And flying home.

Organizing Flowers into a Bouquet

Under Wednesday's umbrella

We shape our eternal dress

Did you avoid trying to say that
Glowing in jars of youth.
Breathing out layer-cakes.
We've grown silent

In these last careful months.

The marshland of notebooks

Many remaining instruments
And the hint of citrus twist 

Our words into a particular curve.

This one here and that one there.

Is much of what it all comes down to.

Until stepping away we see 

A thought no one 

not even you

Knew you could think.