Fugue

Constant interweaving of sound
as water through reeds;
voices sing one to another,
and pattern,
like sunlight through water
unfolds from the tangled thread of sound.
The lovely theme
twists through the subtly 'mazing web
as sunlight through reeds.
Here end and beginning,
the circle just,
Here logic from Leipzig,
and mystic calm
from unknown countries of the soul.

—B.H.J.

Red Light

A propos
Boccaccio:
When
The law says
Stop!
Then
Up the sales
Go!

Announcement

With amoret and triolet
To oread and nereid;
With ode to love and palinode
I've wooed and wept and wearied.

And oftentimes, with careless rhymes
And badly phrased metonymy.
I've led some lass to vilify.
Disparage and dishonor me.

And so, chérie, my gaucherie
Bereft me Joan and Molly,
And April (like the month) is cold
And changeable and squally.

No doubt as Spenser's lady was
When, tragic more than comical,
He sent her his inventories
Of beauties anatomical.

So, though I love your eyebrow, dear,
I'll write no woful poem on it;
He's more a fool than poet who'll
Gamble his love to gain a sonnet.

—H.W.G.

Torchlight

Firellt water in the moonlight
flame and rippling silver-flame
and a whisper in the dark

Beauty stood upon the stairs
and all the night was love
because I kissed your gown.

—a.