7 X 56

[joel]

Depression: no; but loneliness encouraged me to climb
on chevron rungs of ladder geese. Dynamic flight sublime
and fluid—heaven rides on winded breaths. And sweetly I’m
aware: if I’m alone, why not explore such heavens’ rhyme

and foot-by-movement-foot, ascend soft clouds to humble earth?
Dreamt exercise of pull-up strength: I rise to fogs of newest birth,
contract my eyes through fresh canals, perceive this future’s worth,
relinquish vision lives I knew for newer journeys’ mirth.

When I abandoned grounded sight, all grounded senses cringed
in pains of foul redundancy as volume geese still fringed
my ears and touch felt clouds. But taste and smell on heaven binged—
I flew away on jet plane wings to heights above. I hinged

my hopes on steel technology for stepping stones away
from just their lowly origin. I rocketed away
to find a sanctuary satellite, where holy may
I look below and mourn and grieve—then look beyond decay,

eight minutes’ lightest glimpse beyond decay. I’d just begun
the moment new again; this Equidistance poised to run
as far as Source is from Eternity. So rapture won
my confidence in shadows lacking on the sun.

No loneliness with Helios, but bright and light and right
and radiance resplendent. Sunshine smiled in full delight
and spread my wonders all across a galaxy of night-
time stars. No loneliness with Helios. The height

of joy magnificent—so bold and full that breathlessness
possessed each atom borrowed from the universe. No less
than heaven’s greatest depth I met; and utter fearlessness
begged please, please hold; please ride on cosmic growth; please heaven bless.

[Doreen Peri]

Joel,

You're one of the only poets I know who can pull off perfect iambic pentameter in the 21st century with finesse.

If Willie were still alive, you two might tie for first place in a poetry slam.

[Doreen Peri]

We're talking about recording it.

[joel]

wow--high compliments! thanks! who'd have thought metered verse could be a gem in the crown of type-a anal retention?

in all seriousness, i'm humbled and thankful for the kind words.

[Arcadia]

is it iambic pentameter? really? I didn´t notice that but it sounds good!