owning Earth
(despicably)
no Earth B
but
B and C and D
and on
until we have to make the letters
prime
and ours
and never ours
not
this one
A
either
a villain tries to steal the moon
and if it does
would
have it
but would have
stolen it
against the tacit and
irrevocable
laws
planets
in a universe
stories to
show
what we do not own
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photo by NASA Hubble Space Telescope on Unsplash
the question posed for funding
1
can
poetry matter
to
which
someone important wrote an essay
posing
responding to the question
and
because it does
verse writing
with the verse-thinking come before
and
in the process
is important
otherwise
we’re left with quadrupeds for horses and
also
without
the Pegasus in modern times
and
yet
there are prosaic aspects as well
the straightforward issues
dealt with
directly
‘cause
verse helps with that
even
a genre to it
and though
we’re not the monarchs of the metaphor
we are the stewards
in
the realm of work
with something of our syntax going
overall with grammar in the poem
to offer clarity
agreed
upon
if by a formlessness in art as well
2
maybe imagine wordless
songs
or nothing to impact a speech
with
such as
the surly bonds of Earth
and
so
poetry
serves
with power like jet planes’ announcements
by Mach bursts
that heard
pressing the sky as music invocations
in
the service as
they sounded with Cold War beats
back then
3
to say things without saying
and
to say again
even so a nation might be following
also changing
like seas
rhyme
meter
provide accompaniment
to all that’s
said
addressing the five senses
in
their import
plus all the added senses at which
poems might be
guessing
4
for all impulses
instincts
and
directions over and inside
our Earth
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“Can Poetry Matter?” is an essay later developed into a book by Dana Gioia
the quadruped for horse is argued in Hard Times by Charles Dickens
the parts "have slipped the surly bonds of Earth . . . to touch the face of God" are from “High Flight” by John Gillespie Magee, Junior--recited by the President during the Challenger memorial
photo is by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash
lush life
everything is green
too green
we’ll be rescinding
the extreme
as
colors change
finally
to black and white of winter
but for now
driving by
walking by with
care
and certainly to guide the harvesting
it’s all wonder
green
and
if
too green
to love full
by what
we shall forget
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photo by henry perks on Unsplash
[by the photographer] Corn growing in the field. I was attracted by the shape of the fresh leaf growth and the silhouette against the sky.
if there were great expectations
what is expected of us old
which
I’m still trying
to tell
(both kinds
of
telling)
because the line in me goes back
to childhood
with what is remembered
keenly felt
too
often
against which
I think I am supposed to be invisible
by
youthful society
of all those whippersnappers
who
don’t know
I think I’m pushed to say
how good
things are for them
yet they might know
while
I have some whipping
(unliteral but
sharp)
and some
(whatever)
snapping still to
snap
new robes of office
like those honestly
wary
by the lords in Macbeth
or
the pretending gift of Medea’s
poisoned cloak
that
once worn bursts in flame
for
all our sins
piled on to curse
to prove energy
though
delight can become danger
when
expended
if like the artist
no longer young yet
working out
significance in what is now
(again
obliged)
the dry time of
the day
so then try
untry
if not unfeared the journey not
untrapped
by who is the child
who
is older
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photo by Lisa Yount on Unsplash
[still wanting to fly]
eternal delight
(Blake says this of energy)
we wake up
do things
something propels us
if only energy
it seems
though there is cause
as well
we believe if rather subconsciously
in something
in
sensation or
satiation
with or without
then
ideology
we might be moved
by more
by something seen or heard
by
interpretation of a fact
to make a fact
somehow believe
that
this is true
and reason enough to go on
and if not the reason then
the rest
might be in peril
so maybe we need more
and
something lasting
or at least holding on to chores
and to
the rest
if starting with the smallest thing
the chore
(the
regular work)
or
simply to breathe first
a reason
before purpose
and a plan
let that go deep as well as
ready on the surface
so that
we move by not saying
or
by saying
faith
in
something
to have us in the night
and keep us
in the day
(reversing that
for
third shift)
could be God
could be someone
something else
though
should be easy strong enough
to last
not in perfection
‘cause basically that’s not
us
but fixable
as we are fixable
and
we are
tissue that doesn’t tear
like the Roswell
paper
the bulwark that Luther likes
cannot be overthrown
though
by the way
and by
the book
the gates of hell cannot themselves
prevail
against faith and collective faith
the rock it’s
said
of God
by all means
prompted by energy
and
so to have it
rest
and work
and play
also let grace and faith propel
our part
belief in something
by
the way we’re made
and so could take on
the maker
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Matthew 16:18
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell by William Blake
photo by Eugene Golovesov on Unsplash
the laughter of the Lord
there is healthy humor
and there is
and so
God laughs
in creating wonders and the smaller things
to love
in having host-companionship
in making us and our capacity and willingness
for joy
and we may ask
if nature laughs
leaves
you know
in trees
brook water we have met
that chortles lightly
and
in welcome
the clouds an embodiment
a pleasing blue
the fact of the rainbow
the reaction as a promise
and relief
the animals
then
the eyes of cats
the purr
the longing lines
through shapes of dogs
and when we satisfy
the chuckling in the hiss
the roars
of those sometimes
who
knew the joy in making
and now pleasure
when impulses
are
fulfilled
so much that bends the other way
so much awry
from
primal joy
and yet
to come to us it’s clear
we have capacity
we can get the joke
we smile when it’s good
we celebrate
we laugh
and if do it right or from the first
then God shall and
regardless
laugh
with us
and when isolate
for us
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Terry Lindvall writes effectively about God and humor
photo by Cemrecan Yurtman on Unsplash
view
it’s black and white outside
a photograph
later
afternoon before the rain
that’s all
could album this
(some do so
very
well)
wait for more
or
take in
breathe in
what there is just
now
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photo by David Werbrouck on Unsplash
love and power
Lord
who is love but you
and
who is true power
you are the source of
everything that’s
good
and the way through
anything that’s
bad
yet
love us
and lead us from inside
and over parts and all the world
from
each in a place
offering by love and power
mercy
as a measure
in justice
a way to
meet
and so live with
each other
amen
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photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
“FOR ALL” (for translation)
homely liturgy
Jesus
at the shore
Jesus on the mountainside
Jesus in the temple
on the portico
through the city streets
to the cross
and so
after death and resurrection
Jesus in the sky
all
directions
Jesus
in my heart
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photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash
Golan Heights in Israel
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