i.
tonight we kiss in the rain
sheltered under the Pepper Tree
the old dog curls up at our feet
wanting the same attention
ii.
dreaming I’m a seashell
rolling waves gilt
with foam, listening
to everyone else’s conversation
iii.
in the immense quietness
of winter evenings
breathing
as lightly as a gull
iv.
wake early
sunlight and a splinter
of bird song
slips through the window
v.
so often my thoughts turn bitter
I don’t want them to
but the radio reminds me
I am not fond of this world
vi.
checking my reflection
in a puddle –
the word flow
must not be disturbed
vii.
alleyways of tattered houses
and old men
washed up like birds
with their sex broken
viii.
my bad mood’s not
serious & doesn’t last
long – the air is
fragrant from cut grass
ix.
look at the bird
at the edge of its nest
look at the emptiness
now look at the sky
x.
alone at last
a voice hanging
on the corner
of the city
Wow…I just love these…such vivid images full of the beauty of the day…thanks!
thanks slp… glad these images rang true.
intriguing, elusive, like a woodwind melody – and as if one could hear the breathing between notes. wonderful, thanks
such a beautiful description tipota. am so glad you could hear the breathing between the notes… for me that is an essential part of the music.
Very interesting Graham – blue notes indeed. I love the 2nd one, how you have completely turned the shell experience on its head – haha. Nothing like the smell of cut grass to turn the day around. Lovely selection.
thanks Gabe. i wrote them as little jazz riffs, in that kerouac style of just trying to take things in and spit them out as images. have written a heap of them so maybe a few more will appear here soon.
I find the bird’s nest (ix) most intriguing. If I had not been told it was a blue note I would have been looking for fledglings. Perhaps I should seek out a sparrow hawk in the sky. I think I have found a springboard …
it’s a lovely collection – 10 for the price of 1.
10 for the price of 1… hadn’t thought of it like that JDub, but I like it! look forward to seeing where you spring to with these.
ahhhh.. the cut grass.. in different stages of my life i came and coming upon it and it always have a special feeling. i thought to tell you that V. is one of my favourites here, then that so is VI. now i will just go and read them all again.
the bitterness of cut grass is one of the most relaxing scents… takes me immediately to sunny Sunday afternoons as a child, following my dad around the yard. glad these notes are ringing true Dhyan.
These are great. It’s like skipping around town noticing so many little moments. You’ve captured them so well. Thanks again Graham
Glad you enjoyed them Andrew… sort of haiku like in their simplicity, but more free to play with form.
I keep returning to read these. They are really ‘haiku like’ – you follow some similar disciplines as haiku (a moment in nature/based on senses/absence of writer’s judgement). I really like them and they are great as a random collection like this. Have you seen other examples or were you just playing with a 4 line form? Cheers,
Andrew
I have a cool collection of short 4 line poems by Barry Gifford called Poems from Snail Hut. They inspired me to play with the four line form.