On the blue horizon line

SIMPLE PROW

You see a cat stripe-shadowed

by the slats of a fence.

One of those incidents

from Mendelssohn, out of childhood

infinity... flicker of memory.

Today.  Mid-April air

and sunlight.  Barely there –

a plainness of weathered cedar, sea-

bells.  Sea-salt.  Far away

two splendor-pillars

mark the Gate of years

& gravity – shine, wave goodbye...

& on the blue horizon line

mother & father join

two hands (bright axle-sign

– a double-axe) under the sun.

Man & Woman, O (M-W)...

Come forth, my son,

my daughter, only one –

Time & Space unfold in You.

The mysterious heir of heaven

danced a masque before

Magdalen’s cave-door –

mothering the grainy leaven,

heavy loom of Here & Now.

Under faded barn slats,

hidden in straw, the cat’s

prowling a kingdom’s simple prow.

4.15.16

Balancing books on Tin-Top Hill

COFFIN-CUSP

Here in the cozy habitat

of Cecil St. – Chester-

cat, snug in his nest

(or hut) near the Witch’s Hat

on Tower Hill (old Clifton

Fadiman abode) – Le Roi

est mort, Vive le Roi

brazen carillons cry (Berryman

fleet flute-plot) – I’m remembering

Rhode Island.  Ocean State.

Providence, full spate –

tight-furled concert, in a spring

of industrial silver (Jewelry

Capital of the World).

Hazelnut head, all pearled

with raven breakers... like the sea

my gong-struck muse (Medusa chord).

Apollinaire will bear

the burden of the air

leaning against brick wall... absurd

farewell to fiery squid (trompette

marine).  Buried in roses,

granite Roger poses

on Tin-Top Terrace – a light

unto both Gentile & Jew (washed-up

driftwood apple tree

in prow of paddle-me);

balances books on his coffin-cusp.

11.20.15