Saturday, October 30, 2010

GOODBYE FAIR OCTOBER

Photo by S. Auberle
NOVEMBER
There is always that last day
the one you never want to see
and yet, what is lovlier?
This is the day before the day
when November settles in.
This is the day out in the woods
when last silver moths
are winging from moss to leaf,
the day of the last chorus
of swans in the bay.
Today last leaves are letting go,
tumbling down to the beckoning earth.
This is the day
I watch a proud mink
trotting into the forest,
fur gleaming dark wet,
a fish in its mouth
wriggling in the ecstasy
of November's little deaths.
A slightly different version of this poem appeared in "Crow Ink."

Thursday, October 28, 2010

AFTER THE STORM

Photo by S. Auberle

I may have posted this poem before, but it seems perfect for today, after the wild days of wind we've had this week. This was first featured on Haibun Today.
STORM
All night a roaring of waves slamming onto the shore. All night a Wagnerian symphony of wind and water; now and then the thunder of a falling tree. I reach for you, burrowed deep under quilts. Through the night we lie there, listening, satiated with music of enormous gods. Finally, at dawn, the wind rests. Sun lifts over the porch, light gleaming like old coins spilled across the floor. At breakfast we watch heavy trucks rolling by, bearing broken limbs and trees. The sky is that color of diamond blue found only the morning after.
bodies of trees
their fragrance sweet
even in death

Monday, October 25, 2010

YOU KNOW BY NOW

"After Monet" - digital photo/painting by S. Auberle

lines from a poem in progress...
you know by now
that things
are not always
what they seem
that leafless branches
are not
the forever end of summer...

Friday, October 22, 2010

NO ARTIST IS PLEASED

Collage by S. Auberle
"No artist is pleased.
There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction,
a blessed unrest that keeps us marching
and makes us more alive than others."
~ Martha Graham
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Unless you seek art
as a man whose hair is on fire
seeks a pond,
don't pursue it."
~ Joseph Campbell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I have woven a parachute
out of everything broken."
~ William Stafford

Friday, October 15, 2010

AUTUMN IS A FANCY WOMAN

Photo by S. Auberle

Yes, I've posted this poem before, but long ago, and it remains one of my favorites...
AUTUMN IS A FANCY WOMAN
walking the streets tonight,
a lady whose lover has gone,
turning her dry and brittle
as that icy shriek of wind
bending golden grasses
down onto cold earth.
Autumn walks
under the waning moon,
or in the fading hours of light,
weeping for that summer love
who sipped her like the finest wine,
whirled and twirled her heart,
vowing their dance would never end.
Autumn is the woman
in gaudy red silk,
there on the street corner
under that lamp
holding off the winter
of her days, tattered
leaves swirling at her feet.
~ mimi

Monday, October 11, 2010

A FEW LINES

Photo by S. Auberle

a few lines from a new poem...
The body hungers
I believe, for beauty
as well as food.
If my mother
who loved beauty,
returned to me this day,
I would wrap her in my arms,
rest my cheek on her hair
the exact texture
and color of milkweed
shining in the sun...

Monday, October 04, 2010

SOMETHING THERE IS IN US

Photo/painting by S. Auberle
something there is in us
needs an island
for once, it is said,
we lived on Great Turtle's back...
~ mimi