contemporary poetry
If my soul could speak …
POSTED IN contemporary poetry June 15, 2013
If my soul could speak, and you know it can,
Just as it can see and hear
It would tell of a wondrous world
That is near, so very near.If it knew, and you know it does,
It would say what to do, just because
Of the love it bears
For me and you.If it could hear, and I’ve said it could,
It would listen, then burn away pride
Draw its mighty sword and divide
Light from darkness, bad from good
And strive toward what it knew it should.Until Nirvana’s gates stood wide
And it was asked to come inside
The world of oneness, to bow at the feet
Of Him whom it has come to meet.With gratitude and grief for the past
Reaching that gushing font at last
Feel the wind through its hollow reed
Escaping both ambition and need.Here is the shore of the ocean I named
It is just as close as before
But there is still a ladder to climb
Still another door.Even poetry can’t describe
Those things that still lie hid
If my soul could go, and you know it did,
It would see these, too.
Heyoka Drum Song
POSTED IN contemporary poetry June 15, 2013
hear you my name
then you see me
See you name me
you don’t see meIn tree dancing
stick be holding
calling you out
setting you freerising slowly
dropping quickly
cry your laughter
laughing your painShun me, love you
Catch me, empty
Hold me, away
Follow me, notHopeless, answer
danger, safety
empty, blessing
nothing, rewardTurn-in side-out
poor you be rich
poor to riches
richly poor become on back child
New Tale to tell
laugh-up sitting
crying out louddrum you with me
dance you with me
sing you with me
one beat we be
http://garnetrobbie.wordpress.com/
How to travel forever
POSTED IN contemporary poetry June 13, 2013
How to travel foreverHave conversations with people you see
and those you imagine. Position yourself
so the light bounces off the man’s glasses
and opens worlds back to you. Wear clothes
that make everyone you pass shadow you,
hours later they’re still whispering about them.
When you appear in a dream you have tallied
the signposts, traveled far. Eat cinnamon,
it will ooze from your skin like cookies.
Worry the Metro ticket in your palm. In
your pocket. Remember how you came up
the steps into the light, stood at a bar
and had coffee, the branches outside
stirring a soft orchestration upon your face.
Listen to old music, touch his hand.
The sum of you greater than each of you
unmatched, expand into the sky.
TOBI COGSWELL
from the volume LIT UP
