POETRY, 1971-2023

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You moved as

I moved as me,

We moved as three:

The sun, the moon, the sea.

 Moving here,

 Moving there,

The moves we shared,

The moves we dared;

The I-move-you,

The you-move-me,

 The unmoved moves

The mystery.

But from today

Those moves are done

We unify, we move as one:

The sea, the moon, the sun.

The juice inside the sugar cane

Is spilling on the ground;

The river can't contain itself,

 Vultures circle round.

This vegetation swallows men,

 Women weep at night;

The swollen, dank and rheumy sky

Has lost the gift of sight.

Conforming, could I lay me down

 To die without ado,

Except this ache, this restlessness

That has to do with you..

Oh, holy Omega,

The other end of initiations, 

You who ordain

That all must end, and how, and when, 

Thank you

For ruthlessness beyond reprieve. 

Measurer of limits,

When water cracks foundations

​And stratagems collapse;

When remedies fail and breathing ceases, 

Thank you

For grim clarity, the peace abiding 

Beyond supplication. 

​Amen.

By the powers within me

And in full possession

Of my impermanence,

I hereby assign and bequeath

Unto my shoes, my feet;

Unto my hat, my head;

Unto my wife, my heart;

To this day, my life.

I nominate my children

To be themselves, no bond

Required but love freely

Given, full benefits.

God Almighty shall be

The trustee of my estate,

Mother Earth disposing

Of the rest and residue.

One creates the cosmic self;

​Two divides to know itself.

Three illumines, three inspires!

Four makes crystal, liquid, fire.

Five is lord of earth and sky;

Six, impassive, live or die.

Seven crowns the singing gate;

​Worlds undreamed of start with eight.

Nine proclaims that all is done;

​Ten affirms that all is one. 

Red regales in midday vigor,

Violet veils the truth;

Blue is blessed, cool, embracing,

Yellow conjures carefree youth.

Indigo has bold intentions,

Orange can hold the eye;

Green will soothe the fevered soul,

But only rainbows prophesy.

Red death, yellow death,

Glory of God,

Giving up the forest ghost

To withered sod.

Red death, yellow death,

Year on the verge,

Lapsing while the final paeans

 Of color surge.

Red death, yellow death,

Glory of God,

Laying out to final rest

Inside the pod.