Chess problem

REED MAT

Husks of cicadas, limestone shells.

These layers, a palimpsest

of leopard skins (East/

West).  Serpentine spells

(Alph to Yezidi).  In graven

hieroglyphs of human

dream – Solomon

& Shulamith (Ferrarese garden

bond).  A Mendelssohn mandala-

afterlife, of local

equilibria... after all

the Pharaohs have their sway (selah).

Battle of shade & pictograph

resolved by wind.  Cool

breeze, troubling pool

of sunken barge (regal riff-raff).

Vernacular archaic culture

architecture – simple

transmission of ample

gratitude for being.  Pressure

on the king (of everything).

Grey humming bird

omen signals absurd

sacrifice (pawn for nothing)...

his baby steps (Gypsy to Jew)

toward one wooden

nature morte (amen,

amen).  Reed mat, sheik.  Me & you.

1.23.16