vale my friend, Gina Ghioni

 

in the jungle of just where we happen

vale my great friend, Gina Ghioni

 

in the music of rain

a bright patch

where we saw the whales

 

it was all the world outside

 

world indoors  as well

 

with little leaping hound at home

 

we were a couple of pups once

not long

but both building persistent

 

knocked about

kicked around

 

in conversation

in print and by gestetner

 

I blind to much and you knew

were picturing

piano too

and I guitar

 

quick quipped Byronic

(on the Bucketing Downs)

and the sea was yours

is

 

we were in China

in Markwell, in Christchurch

on the train, afoot

 

there’d always be when and next

 

years nothing away

till now

 

you’d love the light here

a flutter

squirrel up

first shadows

forest thereof

hills rolling away

 

moments like this

I go into a poem

where

you are the roof and the walls

and the style

 

you know

this is what I do

 

you live in

a wry purple

not mine

you are always making

 

dear friend you’re with me

here now

almost autumn

the leaves though still

 

all green as far as the eye

 

now the sun comes up

without itself

 

the rest of us left bereft

go on with the ache of you gone