February 2, 1995
The pen’s nib scratches
a black scar across paper.
A larger world demands attention,
but for now- – I write this poem.
Like a bird repairing her nest,
I must think about today.
(from “My Book of Changes,” 1994-1995)
-
Continuity
He sits near a pond.The pond is stillin the calmsummer night.His hand floatsabove the water,perpetuallyon the vergeof the undisturbedmoon-lit sheen.He is content.He is benefice.He is water.(from a work in progress: “Arcana,” Kingpentacles, February 4, 2014) -
Birth
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So it’s over;So it begins:The present—always, againwithin;without sin.(from a work in progress: “Arcana,” Xswords, February 4, 2014) -
not so foolish
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“The sequence returns; one thing leads to another—the usual order.”–Virginia Woolfall’s so elementally repetitiousthrough infinite waves’ pulseone hand lets falllike oxygen moleculesinto the otherto bobble troublesall the whilewith all the wilesdancing an idiosyncraticdance along the shore(from a work in progress: “Arcana,” IIPentacles, February 2, 2014) -
Small Things
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January 21, 1995A sparrow twitters ona bare birch branch.I laugh in wonder- –simplicity overwhelms me.I spend the day watching clouds;the mountain can wait for tomorrow.(from “My Book of Changes,” 1994-1995) -
Caritas
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the word for teaching is learning–James Brittonthe scales’ swing’s never justifiedI learn from my students morethan I could ever teachI dole out my talentswith parsimonious guiltbut balance manifests withinthe flow of the day to day exchangesone mind to one mind into anotherI offer what I havetime to read and thinktime to write and reflectthe arcana of teaching begsto disappear within the learningto find what must be taught(from a work in progress: “Arcana,” VIpentacles, January 31, 2014) -
A Year of Postings
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On February 1, 2013 I decided I would try to post something on this blog everyday. I thought I would fail, because finding time to write has always been problematic. I figured I could supplement new poems and musings with older poems, after all I have been consciously writing poetry since I was 15. Luckily I do not have much writing still extant prior to the age of 22.With this post I am making my goal a reality. I have posted 492 times since this time last year. Not only did I post at least once every day since last year, I sometimes managed to post multiple times in one day. The self-imposed quota has made me do what pretty much all advice to writers from writers boils down to: write every day. Many days I posted something from one of my longer projects from the past: “My Book of Changes”, “If This is A Comedy, Why Ain’t I Laughing”, “Primogenitive Folly,” “115 Missing Days, or “Sonnet, a Renga.” But the majority of the time what I posted were new poems. Even when I posted one of my older works, I still wrote everyday.I make no claims to the quality of my poems. But as Charles Bernstein wrote, if you call something a poem, then it is a poem. It might be a bad poem, but it is still a poem. I think I am writing some of the best poetry I have ever written. Yes, that is an arrogant statement, and easily mocked. I don’t have a problem with that; I write poetry. I like what I write. I want others to read it. Like it, don’t like it; get it, don’t get it: It doesn’t change what I write or think about. I put thought and conscious effort into each poem. I try to write with skill and craft in each line I lay onto the page. I enjoy the hurdles of self-imposed structures, coupled with random chance and whim.Ultimately, writing everyday has given me a space to think about the world and my place within the life I have managed to carve out. It has made me more attentive to my thoughts and normally roiling emotions. If nothing else, this has been a positive influence, forcing me to examine the vicissitudes of my condition with a more contemplative eye.I will continue to post as I write. I am currently working on a project with my sister Donna Neal, the visual artist, based upon the tarot pack. So, the poems should still come on a fairly regular basis for a while. I am not going to worry too much if I miss a day or two along the way however. I hope some of you have enjoyed the flood over the last year, and will continue to read what I write.(January 31, 2014) -
fighting the good fight
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fear screeches fangs barethen flees to let her echoeslike briar along a fencebend their discontentshe stands amid barren fieldssword drawn like Occam’s razorfeeling foolish without reasonfor an argument to makeoutside his disquietudewith raging all aloneagainst the icy windshowling in his heartlike hungry jackalsagainst the dark(from a work in progress: “Arcana,” Knightswords, January 30, 2014) -
subtraction
tension forms an absencelike clayclawedfrom the groundtension forms an absencelike a moldtossed asideemptythe casting brokenon the floortension forms an absencelike a holein the airwhere youused to breathetension forms an absencein my selffrom the lifewhich pulseswithout metension forms an absencefrom the lovearound us all(January 28, 2014) -
disconnect
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bridges are like doorsexcept a presencewhere doors are absenceyouare a doorwithin my wallsIam a bridgeacross your riverI step outsideyou flowto the seaI cowerat the absencebetween the stars(January 28, 2014) -
particle chamber
“I’m coming to the age I am.”–Michael Palmerturn over and thinkdrift along a narrativewith an inarticulate endfading into another sleepan interrupted dreamsevering chains of positsand if then constraintsassuming one followsalong elemental plotswhere arcs become lineswithout connotationsto deflect and disruptmeaning’s lackadaisical flowwithin time’s impositions(January 27, 2014) -
Restless
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Desireto bedesiremust beout of reach:another doorat the topof a stair;another locka keywon’t fit;somewherea peaceexists.(January 26, 2014) -
Definitions
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A naïve trustpermeates allhe encountersoutsideof books,which lendthemselveslike robesagainst other’sbony fingersprodding himlike a sacrificialswan.Tension ripplesfrom himas he wadesthrough waterneck deep,his feetsloggingthroughthe suckingooze.He pocketsdefinitions’stonesofferedfrom others,untilhe disappearsbeneath the weightinto the expectantwaves.(January 26, 2014)
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