the oblong pilgrim

a green-eyed jaguar
near a cliff i saw
caught in the fires of spring
a long lean jaguar
sliding among the flames
when i was younger
these hills were a wonder
mists swirled on down
rainbows curled around
then came this evil
scorched ragged earth
and that lonely hungry cat
had no home

a green-eyed jaguar
in a dream i saw
atop a radiant hill
mists in his eyes
a rainbow near his heart
and that wildest
most fabulous cat
was my friend

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an old logging trail
down below the barnyard wall
short cut to durham

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no dreams no danger
nothing under the pillow
sleep, a soft prelude

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deer in the meadow
moss under the apple tree
softness of our woods

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so far from a home
alone on a vast green sea
high plains wilderness
´(mali, 1976)

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a secret drawer
floating on a lost river
endless wandering

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rag-time piano
horse in the civil war barn
hoof stompin’ on rock

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down by the old lane
the civilization tree
hardly understood

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nights of poetry
in neptunium darkness
a haiku is born

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ana-banana
milagro oaxaqueño
te quiero mucho

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WOLF

i crept down the trail
and slid over the falls
where never a man could follow
i slipped on the moss my head in a toss
where only a wolf would follow
then my legs hit the depths of the pit
as i crashed to the floor of the hollow
how my feet sank in a dark muddy bank
that lies at the back of the hollow
and a frenzied rain of honey bees came
straight out of the mouth of a dove
and up from below the demon-packed flow
pelted my skin from above
then i felt the moist eye
of a beast lurking by
as a shadow crossed over my brain
as darkness befuddled my brain
and a fear as of sin
penetrated within
as i gasped and groped for the sky
and the wolf moaning there
jaws in the air
claws clinging onto the rock
and the wolf lunging there
fangs laid bare
nausea seeping into the block
over the brink i leaned
near the snout of the fiend
and hidden deep in the throat of the wolf
galaxies i spy giant clusters i cry
trapped in the jaws of the beast
where the large is small
and the small so tall
a hideous galactic feast
read no further my friend
as a damp evil wind
could unravel your delicate mind
tread no closer my friend
for a harsh devil wind
will unbuckle the knobs on your spine
don’t hover long there
in the dank musty air
that covers and smothers the lane
don’t linger down there
don’t dally beware
swamp gases could beckon your brain
for we’re here all alone
all logic has blown
as we ponder the hideous beast
as we adore that fabulous beast
we’re here all alone
nothing is known
there is no logic to follow
for then my heels hit the depths of the pit
as i fell in the well of the hollow
and then how i sank in that dark mystic tank
that forms the black hole of the hollow
and the wolf staring there
a monstrous glare
as it guards the uncarved rock
and the wolf howling there
befouling the air
as it covers the primeval block
and the planet swung ’round
with a quivering sound
as destiny fought with desire

and stars exploded

constellations unfolded

as i oozed down into the mire

and the galaxies reeled

and the clusters revealed

the universe

chaos on fire!

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