Falling Stars

Do you remember still the falling stars
that like swift horses through the heavens raced
and suddenly leaped across the hurdles
of our wishes--do you recall? And we
did make so many! For there were countless numbers
of stars: each time we looked above we were
astounded by the swiftness of their daring play,
while in our hearts we felt safe and secure
watching these brilliant bodies disintegrate,
knowing somehow we had survived their fall.

(Rilke)

I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love,
If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles.

You will hardly know who I am or what I mean,
But I shall be good health to you nevertheless,
And filter and fibre your blood.

Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged,
Missing me one place search another,
I stop somewhere waiting for you.

(Whitman)

You cannot ever know how much i love you
because you sleep in me, asleep to all.
Weeping, I conceal you, persecuted
by a voice of penetrating steel.

A norm that unsettles both flesh and star
transfixes my afflicted breast,
and turbid words have bitten
the wings of your unflinching spirit.

A crowd of people leaps in the gardens
eager to glimpse your body and my agony,
on glowing horses with green manes.

But sleep, sleep on forever, my beloved.
Hear my broken blood in the violins!
Look out, for even now they lie in wait!

(Lorca)

The moon shone down as it will
On moments of deep introspection. The wind held its breath.
And look, somebody left a mirror leaning against a tree.
Making sure that I was alone, I took off my shirt.
The flowers of bear grass nodded their moonwashed heads.
I took off my pants and the magpies circled the redwoods.
Down in the valley the creaking river was flowing once more.
How strange that I should stand in the wilds alone with my body.
I know what you are thinking. I was like you once. But now
With so much before me, so many emerald trees, and
Weed-whitened fields, mountains and lakes, how could I not
Be only myself, this dream of flesh, from moment to moment?

(Strand)

before summer rains

Suddenly, from all the green around you,
something - you don't know what - has disappeared;
you feel it creeping closer to the window,
in total silence. From the nearby wood

you hear the urgent whistling of a plover,
reminding you of someone's Saint Jerome:
so much solitude and passion come
from that one voice, whose fierce request the downpour

will grant. The walls, with their ancient portraits, glide
away from us, cautiously, as though
they weren't supposed to hear what we are saying.

And reflected on the faded tapestries now:
the chill, uncertain sunlight of those long
childhood hours when you were so afraid.

(Rilke)

dissolver of sugar

dissolver of sugar, dissolve me,
if this is the time
do it gently with a touch of a hand, or a look.
every morning i wait at dawn. thats when
it's happened before. or do it suddenly
like an execution. how else
can i get ready for death?

you breathe without a body like a spark.
you grieve, and i begin to feel lighter.
you keep me away with your arm,
but the keeping away is pulling me in.

pale sunlight,
pale the wall.

love moves away.
the light changes.

i need more grace
than i thought.

(Rumi)

light leaves
swallowed by
shadows seemingly
nothing