1311
4.viii.23
4.217
always a surprise to
look up
for godsbother and the field guide to Australian clouds
it’s hind legs, bend back, open head
surely the heart will follow?
sometimes even just looking across or out
does the trick
but up is really special
(heavenly some say)
you’ll see how soft the day can be
though it’s not always so
it’s up through the lives of leaves
much visited as they are
and who would have thought it was
we do the turning
yes, sometimes it’s only plaster or tin
it’s all in the way you look
no matter, though, the cover
there’ll always be some crystal sphere
that is our grave unblinking
all our puny reaching has been towards this
best of our ancestors we keep up here
and maybe a mote
maybe the whole thing dreamt up
the spectacle’s all plot
see kingdoms quickly won and lost
castles blown away
of all that has been written there
which of us could read?
icons of courage, one could say fear
it’s how you get this stiff neck we’ve got
but it’s worth it
ghost column
still chimneys point our way
blink, the sun’s down
the eye goes further
you’ll see steady stars
other worlds just on their way
sometimes a stone falling
our sky just one among the countless
a clarinet leading now
and here’s the lark ascending
however close we come to it
there’s always a show upstairs
umpteen messages unread, waiting there
a message is coming through right now
you’ll be bound to receive it too
if you will just look up
