"underpinned" poems
Autumn flares out, its flame burst clouds
strewn about misted cliff sides, loam whites
of winter taking their place. A stiff willow breeze,
ten thousand things withdrawn to burrows and immortal
pine heights. First snows stream down, duckweed carpets
of August fade, jade peeking through white. I embark
on the seasons final sail in hardening ice waters.
Til spring my sails will be folded, my raft in idleness.
~~~
Rafting on moon drenched river, avoiding cascades and crash of
rapids and falls. Silvered driftwood a warning. Silent glide of
mulberry oar through dark azure, another crafts sail in silhouette.
From the deck a black spectre dives below, stillness follows
splash, re-emergence, beak wrapped around a dazzling rainbow.
From my raft dangling lantern sways, trout swiping at
gathered moths – scatter and return, some from a far off realm.
Some trout in the net, others not. Luck or the way – who can tell?
~~~
Dusk colour gorge sheathed in
emerald blankets, rising into sheer
cliffs of auburn cinnabar, all
underpinned by the fathomless
flow of azure clarity. Snowy Egrets
nest in pine top heights clear of dust.
On white sand shores gibbons howl
towards squawking beach gulls, squabble
over landlocked trout – debate without end.
Peach blossom petals swirl on spring breeze
over carpets of jade inter cut by king
fisher blue zipping over duckweed. Oriole
song weaves in and out of mulberry branches.
In these vast and vague waters -
coves, creeks and streams all one,
a river dragon lives an undetermined
existence. Mud stirs below, merely a
catfish airing grievances.
Red tail flares in dirt,
my mulberry oar rows me back home.
Jan 15, 2012
Jan 15, 2012 at 8:13 AM UTC
"Just five minutes more" is the cry.
Playtime has been interrupted by the familiar "hurry up."
Vocabulary common to every parent:
"You've had ten more already. Time to get out."
Why do they insist? My needs never win the battle.
Why is my fun spoilt with this never ending list of demands?
"Oh, it's not fair" is yelled in anguish and responded to by further rebuke.
The severity of consequence based on their ambiguous countdown is increasing;
a thread of the "Thinking Spot" will no doubt soon follow.
A few grumbles are followed by silent protest,
albeit underpinned with a threat of childish tantrum.
It's time for the family meal and this standoff has but one resolution.
Isolated relaxation time is over.
The timetable of the young child at the door demands no less;
the parent must vacate their ten minute bath.
Jul 4, 2017
Jul 4, 2017 at 1:40 PM UTC
the word that came, as i left the room.
why.
the cards were right, i thought, knowing
all is underpinned, the past cut with knives.
emerging from the earth with power, with peace.
i recognised the shapes , the pieces, the
talk of crosses, circles and industry.
we searched out the tins,
on the library shelves, slightly rusty.
he read the tarot.
sbm.
Sep 17, 2013
Sep 17, 2013 at 1:39 AM UTC
Can’t give up
Reaching for
Seeking
A meeting
Convening with clarity
All the more fleeting
The seating is limited
Lighting gets dim
And obscuring its absence
Oblivion grim
Underpinned
By the fins
Circling as I swim
Overtones
Of imploding
Corrosive
Head spins
Barely scratching the surface
Of where to begin
When I’m out on a limb
Saying
Find what is lost
But before you sell souls
Please consider the cost
Jul 22, 2023
Jul 22, 2023 at 2:42 AM UTC
thoughts float by
like dandelion seeds
on the restless winds
azure speckled eyes
like painted butterflies
lost in turbid skies
over fields of tamarind
in violent haze
the copper sun gaze
upon sepia days
sanguine visions underpinned
none shall know
the crimson blood souls
but the black jet crows
eyeing gnarled ancient men
supporting ivory vibrant clouds
still paying for their sins
Nov 3, 2017
Nov 3, 2017 at 10:39 AM UTC