Reflecting (#5)

Five decades / more     — in the moment
corners lift to light and history.
We're learning to lace and bow.  Watching
the hands adjust or loosen the nuts
on training wheels.  Wondering what secret love
they have in mind for us     — what fable
we might become     — suddenly mid-lived
now in the imaginings of children.

And in this moonlight love we almost see
to read by     — it's Monday
another time.  And then the daylight's come —
out of     ( I think )
somebody else's stories     — bright
as these white scraps
fluttered by the wind in lanes ahead     — and
bright as this day moon —
creditably    — until it's gloves I see —
and the jacket gold
/ the jacket scarlet their paired white gloves
had trembled over —
and fingers like wings     / gloved hands
like wings
instructing us for flying     — and this
tenor's lead     / this tenor's smile
at ovations     / this gold tooth
flashing as the lights
played over it!


*


Given the gaze Elizabeth      / the glow —
and these songs alive
as the same songs were around mid-century —
how should we not be
adding depths     — or adding these voices now —
let in their own slow ways
reveal     — voices without a cent     / but gold
to spend on summer corners     — sharing
a phrase let's say     — finding careers
they've just begun to see the keys to —
and finding the skies some nights
/ over streets they've lit
with momentary
blazes!



*


But this would take some time     — with
poem after / pad after poem and pad
to tell you     — presenting it polished / flawed —
rubbed and re-shaped
to show back the light I'm reading by —
refreshed by your gaze
Elizabeth     — remembering the years
and love's own slips
and imperfections     — and pleased to be holding
/ home     — beheld in the evening's rites
of welcome and unloading     — in this show
of light that rose within you
at their singing     — until there's no distance
/ time     — and no other
stars but ours     — but these galaxies spun
in out-takes and releases     — sudden
flocks of stars     / sky-haunting stars
made up by missing and arrival.

Sure     — this will take some time.  And sure
/ it's this simpler more vivid wealth —
and this room     — this warmth we share
on a chilled evening     — with
so much to say as stars go on in their displacing —
as roof-walking stars walk on
or stop to speak to us     — transfiguring
the work indoors
and out around a garden     — and even
these branches emptying
/ opening around us naturally      — no
distance ( may be ) / no time     — and
only this instant lived     — a moment
we spend from seed to bringing in
a harvest     / bright as the bright
snow-bringing dreams
we're marveling!

 

© Appetite (2)