bridge crossing: six poems
Posted: December 7th, 2007, 12:46 pm
1.
back to town
treetops are baring
& mostly vivid
red yellow orange
leaves blow past george washington
up the up
overcast
but fairly clear
it's been raining
river says grey
things are drying
my umbrella
is extraneous
belly wonders hunger
i forgot in my hurry
to get out the door.
needs be in motion
2.
over the bridge
smooth ride
one stop
conductor door rattles time
grey & cool
& threatens rain
the day
hops over a river
like a crawly snake.
write right hand
til feel burn in arm
switch to left
to get the rest
of the way over.
into the grey
under
& ride
snaky escalator
into grey day
3.
in soft rain
on a train
grey day's solid shifting clod
warmer than it's recent been
cold still
winter's hold is sure
for chilly grey
& no guarantee of snow
george washington at valley forge
is uncomfortably warmly dressed for valley forge
orange treetops shine along the river
nexto faceless tall brick apartment blocks
does a bridge offer shelter from the rain?
does rain offer shelter from anything?
where slither these droplets?
down an incline
as we
swallow silver rails
& spin silver tales.
4.
on a train
first time this week
time to go to work
first time this week
running up the stairs
gave me a coughing fit.
i'm still too sick to move.
elevated train moves.
sun on the back
of the unreal yarn
that holds molecules
together
in impish farce.
that sun
& flashes of light.
something to ask for
that you dont have to ask for.
combinations of confusions.
cart before the ox.
dark before descent.
welcome to tunnel world
where overworn ears pop
& feel walls of tunnels tighten
constricting passageways.
well,
at least it leads
somewhere
but
that's as shifting
as trainsway round corners.
5.
snow day
distressed by being
but spirits buoyed
by blowing water crystals.
what's in a flurry?
today the train crawls
& the sun comes out
to frolic in the snow
with george washington
at valley forge.
up & up
over the bridge.
clouds break into fragments
& lights flash
& sun makes snow disappear.
fall no further.
forget what blew by.
& the sun
dances its own
staccato of shine
til the last speck o blue
or white can be seen
from train window
going underground.
6.
ah the train
snow flurs
& here we go
a cool roll
as days grey
turn as short
as they can get
& the heart's hard
pressed to be warm'd
by sun.
some things
like flakes
& sheets of ice
bring smiles
bridges give
the satisfaction
of an up & a down
a way to go
over & thru
to pass
the solstice shortness
& climb back up the light
slide down the incline into darkness
& climb back up to the light
under & up
over & thru
back to town
treetops are baring
& mostly vivid
red yellow orange
leaves blow past george washington
up the up
overcast
but fairly clear
it's been raining
river says grey
things are drying
my umbrella
is extraneous
belly wonders hunger
i forgot in my hurry
to get out the door.
needs be in motion
2.
over the bridge
smooth ride
one stop
conductor door rattles time
grey & cool
& threatens rain
the day
hops over a river
like a crawly snake.
write right hand
til feel burn in arm
switch to left
to get the rest
of the way over.
into the grey
under
& ride
snaky escalator
into grey day
3.
in soft rain
on a train
grey day's solid shifting clod
warmer than it's recent been
cold still
winter's hold is sure
for chilly grey
& no guarantee of snow
george washington at valley forge
is uncomfortably warmly dressed for valley forge
orange treetops shine along the river
nexto faceless tall brick apartment blocks
does a bridge offer shelter from the rain?
does rain offer shelter from anything?
where slither these droplets?
down an incline
as we
swallow silver rails
& spin silver tales.
4.
on a train
first time this week
time to go to work
first time this week
running up the stairs
gave me a coughing fit.
i'm still too sick to move.
elevated train moves.
sun on the back
of the unreal yarn
that holds molecules
together
in impish farce.
that sun
& flashes of light.
something to ask for
that you dont have to ask for.
combinations of confusions.
cart before the ox.
dark before descent.
welcome to tunnel world
where overworn ears pop
& feel walls of tunnels tighten
constricting passageways.
well,
at least it leads
somewhere
but
that's as shifting
as trainsway round corners.
5.
snow day
distressed by being
but spirits buoyed
by blowing water crystals.
what's in a flurry?
today the train crawls
& the sun comes out
to frolic in the snow
with george washington
at valley forge.
up & up
over the bridge.
clouds break into fragments
& lights flash
& sun makes snow disappear.
fall no further.
forget what blew by.
& the sun
dances its own
staccato of shine
til the last speck o blue
or white can be seen
from train window
going underground.
6.
ah the train
snow flurs
& here we go
a cool roll
as days grey
turn as short
as they can get
& the heart's hard
pressed to be warm'd
by sun.
some things
like flakes
& sheets of ice
bring smiles
bridges give
the satisfaction
of an up & a down
a way to go
over & thru
to pass
the solstice shortness
& climb back up the light
slide down the incline into darkness
& climb back up to the light
under & up
over & thru
