#128 - so many things survive us

9.5.20

128

so many things survive us

so much matter

is and are

                                         

damaged things

and daisy fresh – the unrepaired

words and stillness –

I forget myself

make an untidy pile

when all the motions have gone through me

not the gripes or griefs

nor love of where we are

the mirror-step-through

this having blessed and been

how once we fleshed it

now the bones

taste of all that’s gone

days remain

and others in them

whom we have loved

to whom we’re lost

at stretch

believe an oracle

lose count of myself

mumbled off

trumpets, bagpipes

much vile musing

the singalong goes on

scratch down to

nations thrive and fall

madmen, and women, too

bombs bullets rain

some survive

do you see an end?

so angels over will have sung

everything lighter than air

a shelf of each meaning thing –

shell, pick, banksia cone, a coin

each joy grief particular

now no one to connect

and so much remains unlearned

we come to the reinventions –

fire, wheel

works to their own fading

mainly leaf tip twirl

and breeze to cheek

as if words could be recombined

and the talking to oneself –

air thralled

clocks tick over

half hopes

the boots and nowhere to go

the get-to-bloom, bud

smell the hills

herbs of them

unguent

pretending a body to life

you won’t weep those tears again

come to my reward – it’s heaven

cake and eat it too

the ringing of the street

wings borne of their song 

                                        

give these worlds a whirl

I dream a little cloud goes on

and this bright vanish mine