Strata Gems

. . . . .

provinces of fire
flaming hands of wildest winds
return winter-wood

. . . . .

shadows uplifted
labor freed from forest leaves
sketches of this life

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newest shade-dweller
sits in a crevice of time
an insomniac

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animals still hide
inside children of the sea
singing minstrel myths

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traveling lights
in perfect-time paradise
rainy queen countries

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spicewood, wild cherry
handfuls of May lavender
after April whites

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memory moves us
along paths to fairer views
mimicking August

. . . . .

there, the solstice tree
recalls each carpenter’s dreams
and all their farewells

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by forked-road pastures
quiet lanes and wayside lutes
the old country house

. . . . .

changes in their world
snapshots of daughters-in-law
collected early

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leaflets of past wars
diving into the wreckage
schools left in ruins

. . . . .

tonight, no poems
will serve the common language
just difficult words

. . . . .

out from the backyard
over the rooftops of time
only burned baskets

. . . . .

and trees still witness
travels of itinerants
marking their goodbyes

. . . . .

Poet: Susan Powers Bourne
Sources: Women.Poets.Maryland
Process: Pick-and-mix cento haiku