[Byzantine Bindings]

Thursday 24 April 2014

Lost in Translation

the problem with translation
language
reality and the like
is that in my youth
I thought dominus vobiscum
had something to do with biscuits
so my attention was caught
naturally enough
little realising
wafer thin connections
the possibility of being
in that sense
escaped me then as it does now
(though probably with less guile)
and evermore
amen

Sunday 20 April 2014

Easter Offerings

Earlier...

those clouds that tree this tree me
time space language
i always get so far and no further
like goldfisch
in a bowl
reason
embowls me
now
flapping about in the imagination
on the varnished table
out at least
gasping foul air
at the cave's entrance

after making the effort
you'd think he would
make more of a fist of it
instead of
lying
dying in the freedom of
stupidity
what was i thinking
those clouds
that tree
this tree
me



Tuesday 15 April 2014

Insubstantial things...



Insubstantial things
like love
and hope
are bigger
than the cosmos
they
expand in times of
trial and 
adversity

substantial things are dust
blowing on the winds of time
something is taking root
conditions are arising
faith
again
exerts
rightful
authority

Monday 7 April 2014

The Kingdom



"Purge yourself of desire...
Present yourself with your need...
Offer your faith, green as a leaf "1

How to purge desire
identify
own
release into the wild
deal with the unintended
outcomes

trust comes on the wind
gentle catastrophic
balm

sitting watching waiting
looking out of the window
in expectant hope
of a golden dawn of out there
truth masked
heart
and soul
in leaden case
purge the lead
expose
rawness

a good job we have each other
that we were first loved
cupped in palm
and more
risked all


1R.S.Thomas "The Kingdom"

Sunday 6 April 2014

They gathered to listen


the inner child
came to nourish the old man in his weakness
brought nourishment form an unexpected source
from over the fence a someone shouts in German
to wake him up but he is having none of it

here in this pagan dancing circle he relishes
the dance
the costume ritual
womanly drama of it all
no fool like an old one
fool and his money...
then

from the outer reaches
comes the man and his dog
preaching
'no birth, no death'
'fail again, fail better'
the past is no more
it never was in any substantial way
no fishing

guilt art poetry and love
lay imprisoned deep within him
the keys of manifestation
hang around his neck
ready to nourish him
he fails to see and looks out through the bars
whimpering for easy bread

how hard can it be
to go easy on yourself



Friday 4 April 2014

Endurance

this endless wanting to know
this search
for what
some holy grail
no!
look beyond the grail to stars beneath
earthbound paradise

beneath
your feet
the kingdom is
perpetually
growing
ageing
dying
being
Eastered
re-born
if you will
as if

there never was a birth
there always is
continuum wave and particle
dependent upon the viewer
half full
or half empty
futile conjecture -
no glass
always full
sometimes water
milk
beer
wine
air