Poetry

i.
 
near this gate,walk in procession
orange sand in front, in a crystallized state
sandals in a single row, in a single line
in a hurry this sandfly, eager desire
in line with recollection, if possible no more blood
if possible, a manipur bush quail
in sandalwood, fully mottled in front
a sandbank, an open stage, walls of pali and sanskrit
yogesvara and ibn arabi in a daydream
a greenery of many types, of a long past
of the same sound and movement –
in front a love spell, from long ago
as tentative and bold, as insistent
as the starlings gathering, scattered grain
 
ii.
 
love ties like henna, lifted inside, out
where? where? there, in the vial –
there, an act, an air pocket
an orange-faced orchid ignored
hard petals ready to break off like a choka
as light a sea breeze, as light-footed
this remembrance, sandbar walk for basho
yesterday’s dream, glimpse of ikebana alike
handwriting as arranged, fingerprinted name
hovering in the air, in gilded layers in front
the gold ornament, her bridal forehead
as clean a face, as removed of feeling
to look down at the dust and ground
the northern pintail, wings clipped to its back
 
 
* This poem first appeared in "Sunrise From Blue Thunder: A Pirene's Fountain Anthology For Japan's Earthquake-Tsunami Relief".