Methods of Levitating: Poems

with art by Pier Hardin, and the Stack of the Week

“The Frog Pond,” oil on canvas, by Pier Hardin

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.

“The Cave,” oil on canvas, by Pier Hardin

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.

“Aussies,” watercolor on paper, by Pier Hardin

Stack of the Week

The Stack of the Week is THE NEIGHBORLY FLORIDA by

Lara Chapman

. 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.

The Land Remembers

Thanks for reading, from my fancy internet typewriter to yours.

Photo by Julia Kamm on Unsplash