Joyful Noises

Just when I had grown used to silences

out comes sheet music from dusty binder sleeve.

Yesterday’s corded tensions

fall, unstrung, as heart-lightly I

unwittingly hum ‘Shave and a Haircut’ and ‘Let It Go.’

Long after the keyboard closes, joy echoes on.

Grace Speaking

To love is to act

open-armed, unafraid:

water cup, prison visit,

compassion for all who live

(freely receive, freely give).

 

Sufferings bind, grind down,

but hope burns steady

in darkness. Soon the broken

will be whole in every part

(head, body, heart).

 

Song

The soul was made to fly—

Watch song-birds flit

before storm-gray sky

and know we all share

this circumstance: pinned

by self-weight to earth,

this wing-beat effort

must rupture our spirit

unless we give voice

to the longing

for beauty to come

 

But Wishes Breed Not

Fallow time, moon-dark: no power

of words nor healing much less

smiles tears or beauty-making

(feeble light flickers in clouded lantern)

 

You know the black river under

starless skies ever cold and silent

No remedy but surrender

touch bottom (source-love)

and resurface

 

Title borrowed from “We Lying by Seasand,” by Dylan Thomas.

One Way

From

here, onward.

Singing or silent: in beauty,

grace-full. (No boot-licking, hoop-

jumping; standing on shoulders, not crawling

on backs.) Step by step into black clouds (silver-

lined and electric,

alone-not-alone).

Listen for a still,

small voice, for

this way, written

on your heart.

 

The Sixth Age

Dust motes falling in silence

Sun slanting through afternoon

Clock hands unmoving

 

Neighbors driving straight into their garages

Ice cream truck passing by, street echoing

empty where children once played

 

Piano stool vacant

Framed photos fading

Mirrors, unwanted, turned to the wall