Maxfield Parrish Sky

Under the canopy of clouds
Where dreams migrate
Across the sky
Every possibility is rampant
Fishtailing with glee
Outwardly the quiet procession
Inwardly the explosive joy

In gold and white
Against a sea of blue
Those etched yearnings
Filter silver linings
Soft to the touch
Like the scales of magical fish
The present moment filled to the brim
With promises that need no tomorrow

The heart soars
All edged with grace
He knew he tasted he painted it
So well
Dear Max.


***
In honor of his birthday which was yesterday, July 25th.

Island Moment

In the silence
chattering frogs
twittering birds
dog barks
fan whirls
faint steel drum
screechy parrot
dogs in chorus
insect song
trees' interior conversation
in a slower time zone
time dance
rain's a'coming
rain's over
wet and happy
Trinidad.

Turning Up the Heat

Nestled in the creases
Salt and sweat
New dirt
How did we forget
This summer season
So persistent

Like a drunken mother
Lurching toward us
Speaking too loudly
Stumbling as she
Reaches to embrace
Not her fault
The poison

Love is there
As strong as ever
Maybe stronger
Tinged by panic
Underlying
Then – is that a shrug?

I see her cut her losses
Let it go –
Like childbirth
All the waves and storms
And fiery ruptions
What the hell
It’s meant to be
This purge
This cleansing

We may be ants
Upon the elephant
Stars in the distant sky
Embryos inside the mother
Our fate to sink or swim
Is it too late
To change?