Thursday, February 22, 2007

out of the high air

I know, I know. So, here I am to give you poemers the latest stuff from my brush. First, the setting: I climbed a low mountain, Mt Enigame-yama, alone recently, spending the night near the top. The top itself would have been too cold. Had a remarkable experience, and got lots of ideas. The following offerings were not written until I descended to sea level, as it were. Needless to say, liberties have been taken with these poems, as is the want and way of poets. But they capture the atmosphere and air of the event.

CAMPING ON MT. ENIGAMI-YAMA

these hills, trees, soundless wind in
an early spring hike
brings us close to the divine

night; meal done, fire dying;
the dark wants no sound,
I hold my breath in rapture

before dawn; calls for the sun
waken the forest
from dreams of spring, into spring

sleeping alone in spring dampness;
waken to cold shivers;
then: the sudden sun

twitter, twitter, churpie-churp,
skitter, scatter, stare;
then, OH, quick: here comees the bear

some morning birds watch me fix
soup, eggs, bacon, fruit;
I feel sorry tho: no worms

There was no bear, of course, or none I caught sight of, tho he may have had his post-hibernation eyes on me. More of this sort of things anon.
Steiner