Swing In A Tree

Sunday, April 2, 2023

"Divide Time"

divide time into before and after
measure lonely hours by tears and laughter
remember the freedom of hot desire
long for winter nights stretched by the fire
listen for rescuing rings of the phone
wait through the days and nights all alone
scream in silent despair and frustration
bury new needs in cold desperation
beg daily for help, no one heeds the plea
search for escape—for a safe place to flee
divide time into before and after
measure lonely hours by tears and laughter

David Chapman-artist

"The Artists"

We began like an artist,
observing the scene,
watching each other from afar.
Carefully, we began to
sketch a rough outline
of things held in common.
Cautiously, we touched brush to canvas—
     a first dash of red, a gentle blue.
    Here a sparkle of green leaves in the sun,
     a glint of mahogany.
    Then a slight sliver of silver on black—

     the light of a summer’s moon.
    There the dusky grey of
     twilight; the orange splash of
      the rising sun.
From the first we were
careful to explore
each new hue.
Trying to create,
with strokes of the brush,
a life together.

"To Keats"

With pen touching paper,

I watch the gray shadow float.

What mystery is this—

This writing?

Thoughts of Keats’s imagery

flow through my crowded Mind.

How could he write with such

tingling beauty?

Each metaphor stings with perfection.

Every allusion, Spring water clear—

Fresh, sweet air,

almost the bitter sweetness

of a deep Red Wine.

Can our vineyards produce such a tasteful red?

Could I, or any other wondering

Bard of this century—

Ever create such subtle horizons—

such mystic hues?

No, Romantic as I may be,

there will be no more virile

poesy such as Keats’s

No Grecisms forever alive.

"Kaleidoscope"

Chunks of experience
                        like cut glass
                                    swirling and gathering
            sometimes clinking gently into place
                        jeweled piece by piece
            sometimes flowing with flood water force
                        flashes of light forming
                                    Diamonds
                                    Emeralds
                                    Rubies
                        Pricelessly unique
            Then changing yet again
                        Ooohs and aaahs
                                    Motion and Splendor
            Suddenly the light’s gone
                        the flow stops
                                    and the eyepiece gathers more of life
                        for another time
                                    another place
                                                another vision

Saturday, April 1, 2023

"Chimpanzees and Stardust"

Walden Pond in November www.trekearth.com

Drifting for a week down the Concord and Merrimack Rivers
I trailed my fingers in Civil Disobedience,
lingered a month on the banks of Walden Pond
just long enough to transcend
from awkward adolescent into endless possibilities.
I happened upon Patterson and Fouts,
fingers dancing into primate thinking,
and my enchantment with
Words, Mind and Spirit
coalesced.
My heroes slept under star-strewn skies,
witnesses
of Nature and Life,
Tools and Language,
Thought and Reason
diligently uncovering commonalities.
Observers
who took me from the pond’s edge
Through Gombe
Until I found my place in the Universe.

Roger Fouts
www.misitprodictions. com

Jane Goodall
www.ngm.nationalgeographic.com