Remain Granny rides on the backseat near meas my brother drives the two lane roads,crosses the bridge over the Nisqually River. He pulls onto the verge and despite the warningsigns, ‘Restricted, Military Personnel only’ followsthe dirt lane to the dead end where the riverslowly churns just beyond the shrubs. We pick our way along a
Trees In their naked and undisguised irregularity, trees Are shocking to me, Trunk hunkered in the ground, Roots spread like eels, scrutinizing the soil, A woodpecker’s knothole Making a home for some tiny starling, titmouse or chickadee– Cavity-nesters in the heartwood. A small rodent, a grey squirrel perhaps, Nestled with its young in its drey.
When Those in Power When Those in Power Huddle in hallway corners To discuss false claims and accusations levelled against you; When the metal jaws clamp down And your flag of freedom hangs limp in the dead breeze And your means to sustenance is endangered And your gainful employment is menaced by their intimations, And
Downfall Disbelief shall be our loss, wading through deception. Want and desire play their hand against fact and fate. Like so much sour milk, our longings spill out. Transformation resists, a stalemate results. Incredulous masses stand their ground, disregarding what lies directly in their path. Over time, downfall imminent. But, who shall stand for right?
Alteration The dress fit her perfectly for years; it wore comfortably, and she liked the way she looked in it – until one day, it suddenly felt too short, too tight, the seams fraying. She tried to adjust it, pulled and tugged, but it didn’t help. She sewed on another layer of fabric, but it
How to Walk on Slickrock Trust your brain and feet to read, instinctively, the interplay of gravity and friction. Do not second-guess whether you will be able to walk down the steep slope. Commit to your step without hesitation. Put your full weight on your feet, walk erect, with determination. It’s the only way. When
Train to Uncertainty While you are living your questions and listen for the elusive answers that may never come, the universe pulls the rug out from under you and slams the door shut. You are left in a rubble of regrets. You should have jumped on the speeding train to uncertainty that would at least
Small Things it’s the small things that count the most small gears that fit neatly into one another these parts kick start the biggest of machines it’s talking without mouths that I remember the longing sigh we give late at night when everybody is asleep and we stare at the stars small things are important
Meditation: University Green Issue #72 Featured Poet The leather magnoliapetals fall hardas if to crackthe sidewalk, then liebowl-still besidewaxy leavesalready yellowedby spring downshiftinginto summer. They twitch and skitterlike the bottlebrush tailof a nearby red squirrel,lifted by the slightestbreeze to be throwna-ground anew. But the petals hold,brown in the sun,and wait to catcha rain that will
Visions of Durant, OK Issue #72 Featured Poet who loned it through the streets in Idaho seeking visionary indianangels who were visionary indian angels—Allen Ginsberg, “Howl” I saw him today, Allen. Saw him as I blewdown Enterprise Boulevardlike an eastern wind.Saw him framed abovethe road in the unbrokenbut backlit clouds.Saw him in ragged blue jeans,work
