empty the trees
and thousands of lily bulbs
not yet bloomed—
in my heart
still spring
*
floating into the pond
the cottonwood leaves—
each one a boat
I would ride in
with you
*
for some things
it is too late, some nests
will never be built—
every hummingbird
is gone
*
I have wanted
to love you perfectly
petal after petal—
now I just want
to love you
The past couple of days, I’ve been re-pondering the differences between the pretty, lyrical languaging, yet with flatness-of-meaning that gets called “poetry,” versus the the subtextual and depth-of-layers writing that actually is, in my book. Here, are four succinct, lush examples of the latter—the “real stuff.” The meanings, nuances, and resonances continue being revealed, “petal after petal.” For me to “talk” about any of these four would take much more saying and telling each one has already done.
Synergy: the whole being more than the sum of the parts. i.e. “real-true” poetry.
I’m about to head off to the job that pays the bills, but it’s okay. Reading these, I now know, “…Today is such a day.”
I want to ride in the boat! Lovely one, though they all float. That’s just my favorite.