I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

2 August 2010

For a long moment: July tanka 2010

Our small cul-de-sac
ghostly and peaceful at once
is perfectly still
under the three points of light
from street lamps and rising dawn.

6/7/10


There are some who like
the wild, wet cold of Melbourne,
ferocious traffic
etcetera. There is no
accounting for tastes, my dear.

7/7/10


My aunt’s wide warm smile
greets me now from the DVD
my cousin sent me
of the recent funeral:
the photo on her coffin.

13/7/10


To go deep, I play.
How solitaire frees my thoughts,
poems release them —
so I find myself able
to float on those depths, then dive.

****************************************

Oh splendid sunset
peach-coloured over the hills,
the navy-blue hills
ringing the fading valley
where the light starts to withdraw.

For a long moment
light suffuses the valley
with warm clarity.
Outlines of trees and houses
glow as light pauses, withdraws.

Like a dying fire
behind criss-crossing branches
red intensifies:
the blaze before the embers
when the light flares and withdraws.

20/7/10


He ran to the car
(we’d paused at the traffic lights).

‘Quick,’ I said, ‘Get in.’
He collapsed on the back seat
laughing, his dark curls bouncing.

27/7/10

7 comments:

  1. dawn rising over the street lights. nice image.

    I'm curious about what mischief was in the last piece but then seeing the animated energy is enough to know.

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  2. No mischief really, just a moment of relief at connecting after it seemed we'd missed each other ... but it's true that that information is unnecessary to the vignette.

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  3. Very good!...

    Visit my blogger if you want...

    See you later \o/ \o/ \o/

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  4. marvellous moments! love their drawing power ...

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  5. So many beautiful, striking images. This last one is my favorite for the way it envelopes me in glee. Thank you. I am also sorry to read about the passing of your dear aunt here and at your haiku blog. I hope all is better these days. Peace,

    Diane

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  6. Glad you enjoyed!

    Peace is the word; that is what my cousins and I feel now for our aunty, now that she herself has found it.

    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete

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