A Sonnet for Johnny Taliban
Reflect O good Mistress of light and moon,
not dark of soul nor burdensome hardship,
but warmly over my love in distant lands.
Shine well and long lift golden hearts aloft.
See hear nor taste the shadowy stench of death;
illuminate senses in touching fingers
as soft tips deftly hold our fallen at safe
Bastion’s walls and shut the gateway to heaven.
I pray you would shine so full and clear
you blind the Hawk and Owl, and hold Eagle still;
yet most I wish your might hides bright happiness
in sweet fair Robins breast, beneath the bushel laid.
My love, home soon together, staying silent
not two minutes for jolly Johnny Taliban.
The Cold Morning Before
This fine crisply cool late summer morn is wasted,
or rather I am, as it bursts unbidden upon the room.
The squeaky-wheel bird has nested atop my head
and he knows but one single, terrible, treble harmony;
notes played upon the ear and skull, with gusto.
Fine colleagues, do not surround me in sleep, rise;
like the hopes in the strengthened, practised, arm
you showed as we sung evensong until the dawn.
Rise I say; sleep not like the just and righteous man
who bangs, now, heavily upon my shrunken soul.
Doodle Bug
Filed under Poetry, Senryu | Comment (0)landing in silence –
clacking hum stops all but fear
squash it or flee