Methods of Levitating: Poems
with art by Pier Hardin, and the Stack of the Week
This is the first week of classes, and as Rodgers and Hammerstein might say, “I’m as busy as a spider spinning daydreams.” We will take a break from the Classroom Journal today with a few poems, along with some remarkable art by Pier Hardin. Check out her work on her website. All of the poems are a few years old, except for the fourth haiku, which was inspired by one of Pier’s pictures. Also, the Stack of the Week closes out today’s post!
Improvisation
Improvising poetry is
a lot like diving for diamonds.
While not a recipe for success,
you may at least practice
some cooking techniques.
*
Wow, some tortured metaphors
just won’t cooperate with scansion
or sit still while you train them
to work within the line
of your exercise.
***
Levitation
Dappled sunlight
and gnats drunk on
petite syrah
your laugh buzzing
*
around my head
as if you were
levitating,
like those youth-born
*
static charges.
The yearning is
as real as grass . . .
I can run my
*
hands through it and
inhale all the
night afterwards,
hold you in view.
A Poem by William Dunbar, translated from Middle Scots
My head did ache yesternight,
So that I may not compose today.
So sorely does the migraine afflict me,
Piercing my brow like an arrow,
That I scarcely may look on the light.
*
And now, sir, lately after mass
I thought to construct my poem,
The theme became too difficult to express,
My seat of memory not having slept,
Made dull by dullness and distress.
*
Often in the morning I rise up,
When my spirit still lies sleeping,
Despite mirth, despite music and sport.
For fun, or dancing, or revelry
Will not awaken me at all.
***
Four Haikus
1
Ears like flying geese,
nothing passes the window,
two good dogs keep watch.
2
It’s the end of the
world as we know it and I
feel fine. Sure seems bleak.
—apologies to REM
3
Beethoven playing
giant rounded octaves off
to Vienna now.
4
At the frog pond a
million amphibians say
happy birthday, love.
Stack of the Week
The Stack of the Week is THE NEIGHBORLY FLORIDA by
. Lara is an extraordinary storyteller and photographer (and fellow English major and academic) who documents the strange, wonderful state of Florida in all its biodiversity and unique culture(s).Lately, Florida has been in the news for mostly bad reasons, but Lara provides an important perspective that is both clear-eyed and lyrical—a series of love letters to the state, though sometimes it’s “tough love.”
Start anywhere: her prose is always engrossing, as are her pictures. Her recent piece called “The Land Remembers” is particularly brilliant. And her instagram account, @westpalmphotog, is also glorious.
Thanks for reading, from my fancy internet typewriter to yours.
Ears like flying geese,
nothing passes the window,
two good dogs keep watch.
----
Hardin could paint that.
Love, love, love this!