Fallen Apples

The crack of dawn bells that

Startled me from sleep were

Far bigger, more alarming

Than they needed to be;

But set me on a mission:

Could I revisit my younger days?

A fox cub, sniffing fallen apples

Couldn’t understand; the

Stag nowhere to be seen,

Though the October bronzed oak

Stood its corner proudly

In bigger, harsher stubble fields.

A part-blind pony listened patiently

But could offer only a toss of the head

And sympathy.

The lane to old education is overgrown

And a discarded Playboy lady, damp

From a night in the ditch

Failed to excite while a

Senseless robin in mist scarfed laburnum

Threw a threadbare tune at a

Bored, farmyard cat.

And the lady in the house,

Who might have helped

Was only concerned that

The hearth was cleaned again.

Glorious rising sun left me wondering:

If the butterfly could speak

To the caterpillar …

What, exactly would it say?

… and, why would the caterpillar listen anyway?

Exhibitio …

Somewhere unseen – tucked away,

Below, behind the artefacts –

 Tiny bulbs that shine forth beams

Of light brighter than small gods

Draw unexpected-shape shadows

All around me: exotic butterfly wings,

Torquemada’s masks, broken pagoda roofs,

Dragon claws; birth thoughts of faith

As they maze floor and walls

With failure portent and treasure promise:

Belittling, mocking, intimidating the observers.

Transitory

Inside the comfortable new warmth

Of the dragon-conqueror church

A red admiral dances it soul-tattoo dance

Against the Easter feet

Of stained glass saints:

Circus of Circles

Close to the ones

Who are no longer here.

Into the wind,

The fragile skies

On butterfly and

Trembling dragonwings:

An audience of

Glossed yellow petals

Hold their breaths.

 

Here, then, begins

Another bright-sun day,

A new beginning in the

Circus of circles.

 

Good morning to all

The people I have

Ever been –

Thank you for

Getting me here.

 

Hello,

See you soon,

To all of those

I have yet to become.

 

6/4/2012