SLIGHTLY ASKEW
A new year offering from Jim Norton
Fluttering poplars
catch and play with it
the breath of stillness
The privy swallows
they don't mind me anymore
a passing sound
Wild orchids
in the drainage ditch
a startled frog
Smothered in soot
a daddy-longlegs on the page
writes its death-verse
The Christmas candle
I put it in the window
though no-one passes
All unknowing
a great work has been in progress.
Opening the door at dawn, lo,
there it is, complete:
sky beyond naming,
mired earth made new,
the tired old track out shining.
Of the stillness, and the presence,
who can speak?
The blue rain-barrel
standing slightly askew,
its mouth wide open.
-----------------------
A vacant moment:
through double glazing
twin half moons
Just echoeing boards
this empty house
where we laughed and cried
Midsummer midnight:
a tiny shooting star
across mown fields
Lengthening
the snail's shadow
draws out the sun
From bush to bush
a wren is hurrying
between the blossom and the thorn
Near home
the bell that never rings
bluegreen under starlight
Walking from shadow
his face a moment lit
this stranger
Who's more wide-eyed
them or us?
nest of wild kittens
Dinner over
in the bowl
one grain
Dare I tell him?
From my neighbour's dung-yard
a double rainbow
On a country road
an old man walks away
as night falls
This butterfly
has chosen a thistle-flower
to fall asleep on
Moving the slabs
the young frogs stare up at me,
fingers spread
Wood an-em-on-e!
every careful syllable
as she bends to it
There by the bedside
orange round orange
don't let me eat you!
A corner-boy,
but for my grey hairs!
the passing world
still chirping
as a long, hot day ends -
churchyard sparrows
Elder-flowers
by my grandparents' grave
with empty hands
The thief
having fingered my Buddha
settled for cold cash
Hours till dawn:
in the hospital grounds
for whom does that blackbird
sing so sweetly?
so many new greens ~
hovering over the camp
blue woodsmoke
bread on the road ~
first to arrive
the limping pigeon
At last ~
the sublime moment:
the doorbell rings
friends come and go
four teabags in the sink
the fading light
Hurry we're late!
Sucking dew from a rose
this particular snail
-by itself
in darkness
a garlic clove sprouts
Tonight
that's how it is ~
the sound of a leaf
scraping along
Behind the north wall
frost lies all day
dogwoods redden
Few cars today:
between each
what was before
NEW BOOTS, OLD BOOTS
1
An old pair of boots.
Take them deep into the woods
and let them root there.
2
The new ones hurt.
The way, the way alone
will ease them.
The first of May ~
yes, yes indeed,
oh yes!
GOING WEST
1
Across the interior.
Cows kneedeep in buttercups
quiet my fears
2
Fleetingly, a hare.
First smile of the day.
3
Dark hills,
and on them patches.
I have gone too far
4
Last light:
lambs cry from hill to hill,
the hermit's lamp burns on
Leafless tree
in the fold of a hill
leans into sunset
From a bare cupboard
a few noodles, the north wind
a little warmer
Light almost gone:
through a swarm of midges
first star
Waking with a smile,
throw back the curtains -
April snow!
Out of the wetlands
it lies in the office park
long beak frozen
Green sunset -
leaning out, its pure gold
the new moon
On leafless branches
tiny white flowers
name unknown