making rope

We held each end, spread

five times the need apart, handles 

smooth and firm, twine doubly doubled

rat-tails, porcine bristled, porcupine fine.

Twisting, taught, tonal, tight,

you held firm, leaned against its pull,

I spun the handle, and wound it round,

tough, alive, coiled and stretched the spring.

Preconceived, at the cusp of curling,

a third hand becomes anchor, midway holding 

half of each snaking together, weaving one wound braid.

Capable of unraveling, we hold onto the knot.

(I have learned to make rope from twine. The process becomes magic in the hands of boys, with a t-shaped dowel and nail tool, spinning the twine tightly until it folds upon itself in a coiled rope. 

I am learning to keep a relationship from unraveling, like a rope maker, we need to tie up loose ends)

divining pool

Pool viewing:

smooth surfaced, obscuring depths,

images reflected, mixing into water,

fluid yielded, encompassing forms,

surface roiled, dispersing views,

for a cool drought,  quenching relief.

Three-quarter moon

The three-quarter moon turned away from me tonight,
her full lips set, jaw edged tight,
war-paint eyes turned to the right,
the three-quarter moon cut shadows with light.

The three-quarter moon
took away the stars,
took away the sea,
took away the clouds,
for a two-toned realm of fog
and isles,
above the horizon line,
hills underfoot,
one step
from the sky,
alabaster lit.

Indian Summer

Apple jelly, wood cutting,

pear pie, windows shutting.

Arms of grapevines growing mounds

arching greens upon the ground.

Buckeyes fruit, late and sallow,

leaves dropping first to fall.

Thick and prickly flesh rises

to night’s sightless icy breezes.

Sun hides, static, pallid

within a seamless, cloudless pall.

The Mother’s hills are

thinned and brown

where soles of summer

have worn her down.

Don’t, yet, give in to the cold.

Don’t, yet, let it take hold.

Put the woolen sweater back.

Rest sandaled feet in the Mother’s talc.

Open the window,

wrap in Her afgan,

draw heated breath

with every the pass of the fan.

Crickets still summon

honeysuckle's song

for Indian Summer

just 
around the corner. 


                         

Serendipity in a Paradox, cont.

Broken Glass

The pan shattered,
from oven to stovetop
who knew the burner was hot?
Rich chocolate creamy brownies
smelling acrid,
suddenly exploded
all over her
all over her feet
all over the kitchen
all into tears.
Shards of glinting needles
and burned cake
picked, wiped,
swept, hunted.

What a relief
for once,
something
tangible
to fix.

but if your heart flutters

But if only your heart became wings

transparently suspending the hummingbird,

but if only your heart became a moth

springing upon a chaotic meandering,

but if only your heart became eyelashes

tapping views into thoughts into view again,

but if only your heart became a leaf-

flag signaling autumn upon a twig,

but if only your heart became a candle flame

to strobe past visions of night,

but if only your heart became a bow

percussing trills to poetic strings,

but if only your heart became fingers

straining for increments of strength,

but if only your heart became a curtain

laced for the gazing wind,

but if your beat became only a flutter

we would hold it in our hands forever.

-for Robin, may your great heart beat strong.

DGG 8-24-11
photo: h.g. giese

guess again

Hitch a hike

lift with praise

pick a penny

reap a raise

what am I?

Point the finger

judge the sucker

name the owner

be the mother

what am I?

Flip this member

from a pocket

the longer the better

this bird will say f...orget-it.

what am I?

slip the band

onto the fourth one of the hand

but make the world understand

you aren't owned by any man

what am I?

the fifth is the grip

if too loose, it spills lids

if painful it will slip

or get hooked on a lip

what am I?

Shaking a fist

busting meat to the bone

cracking knuckles in a scrape?

...an open palm

can give

or own...

This is a photo of therapeutic silver rings, used to improve alignment and function and  prevent further deformity in fingers damaged by arthritis.  Look up: "Silver Ring Splints" online.