Andrew

Over multiple years

of separated poles – alone –

the sun has melted Arctic ice,

Antarctic crackled stone.

But, tonight, when you stood there

using only quiet breath

to sing ‘I wanna be like you oo oo!’

a white bird flew out from the warmth

of dancing turns,

Elvis hips,

burning eyes,

waving hands;

circled on the verge

of waking sleep

and drilled a crevice in my heart

that only children reach.

Robert Frost wins at Scrabble

 I walked along a farmyard wall and saw

a face that I had seen a place before

- as gnarled and wise as any harbinger

but when I turned and walked another way

his face had changed into a howling wolf

that forced me, pinned me, savaged me with love;

conditioned to the wordless bard I am

- the final piece – which letter to put down?

At dinner, after the world burst into flame,

pans bubble,

onions hiss,

all herbs and spices

have entered our mix

and the fire of a stew

will ladle and soon

be about us, surround us,

beyond us, within us;

warm as a life

that survives its explosion,

we’ll share what is here,

(never thirst for what’s not)

and shout out ‘Thank God’

that the garbage has gone.