[Byzantine Bindings]

Thursday 23 January 2014

Strangely

alchemy describes the process
and the form
around and
around
reflexive
reflective
generosity
of old poets
humility
of bards
silent knowing
of smith
raps bony fingers
upon the oaken table top

Tuesday 14 January 2014

Thursday 9 January 2014

Heart's Desire

Sill standing green
in winter's
dark dreariness
green hill of treasure
secret seed horde
stored in earthen mound
beating heart of golden
wisdom
untouched by moth or
dampness
increasing in value
with time
against all odds

Wednesday 8 January 2014

Folding Unfolding

maps and cycles of life
this way and that
forever seeking resolution
learning contentment
reading the story a million ways

creases make the difference
to plain sheets
demarkation denoting embarkation
crossing over brings gentle reminders
fragments

childhood adventures
welded in tales telling
indelible goodness
awaiting discovery
in golden rays of morning stilness

Tuesday 7 January 2014

Discipline and the Path

"And you who would make a cloak of feathers
gold and blue
and seek to wear the mantle cloth of green
loosely hold traditions golden chain
be guide and mystic
independent spiritual advisor for the universe
know the path is only a path
the journey not the destination."

Friday 3 January 2014

Sacrifice

who demands
the severed head of intelect
upon the platter and
witnessed by the angel

standing by the open doorway
keeping crimson vigil
offering the opportunity of
a lifetime

inviting reasons
logic sapping gallop
through the questioning forest
into the asemic hinterland

later
in the court of winter waiting
heroic deeds are told
pacts and bargains made

footsteps follow blood line
in snowy landscape
stone stands stock still
bearing lichen witness



Thursday 2 January 2014

Omens for a New Year

Omens for a New Year.

i - Wings
shocked
before the journey began
perhaps as it began
caught in the act of deciding
in the beginning it began

that which is unobserved
when focusing on other than the moment
has a habit of shocking
singing wings
describing warmer southern straits

perhaps god’s peripheral consciousness
with all its expanse and infinity
caught a glimpse of what might happen
when the clay cloyed and creatures flew
between earth and heaven
too late

ii - Story
head down
the old ones come again
in the teeth of the gale
relentless until sun ripened heart opens
in quiet reflection
revealing possible meanings
gentleness is the order of the day

iii - Brook Woman




















and so the new year found her
by the water’s edge
with no companion on this
of all days

singing her sorrows to the brook
wind blown hair crying
rain swelling rising waters
offering no solace
spitting charity through
winter’s clenched teeth

iv Urth
trees
long since caught by the wind
cried their leafy tears
leaving blackened trunks
counting the cost of another year

bare wet feet
stand stock still in unforgiving
pitiless earthen boots
desiring marching orders
hardly able to draw sap woven laces
to bear the next few months

unconscious trug collects
memorabilia

v - Father
genes pass on
order
in the face of it all
in the chaos of war
conjure up a plan
and mildly measure
intending some bit of security
all the while knowing that
seeds and sowing result in children
sons and fathers caught in a trap
each keeping an eye out for the other in some
awkward unspoken way
and when the wave of truth breaks through
comes crashing on the shore
its fierce tenderness
welcomed and quickly forgotten
offered and withdrawn
proud to be your son

vi - Foundations
belt and braces
corners first
sounding posts
long screws
winding in until metal squeals in wood
and the drill is about to jib
enough and plenty
more besides
there is an order
which helps ensure
temporary security


vii - Community
several tendrils whisper in the shed
exciting times ahead
discovering ways of being sangha
connecting with others
exploring participant observer roles

viii - Discipline
discovering freedom in discipline

ix - Allotment














x - Trees














xi - Siren
three sisters come on the bustling south westerly
calling out their names
we are
shelter
we are
change
we are
birdsong

xii - White van Angel




















sic gloria transit mundi

Wednesday 1 January 2014

New Year's Day

long walk
twelve stations
each a jewel
in the crown of the year

finding midwinter sun
in rain and blow
droplet and crow
I can almost see it

perhaps a test
maybe omens
fractals
holograms

reminders of the future
elements of squandered time
amid the celebrations
of chalky down

seeing clearly
wound healing
discipline and application
make a difference

peace taps gently
as the blind man's stick
leading us on
into the fragile darkness