sing high sing low
and welcome the night
for said and done
what follows is bright
and many times right
SCENARIO FOR THE UNCHOSEN
AT THE BIRTH OF HEAVEN
(in 21 episodes)
-----------------------------------------------------
Deep in sleep
where dragons creep
and visions keep
for all to see
the weaving of a
never-ending
end to be
down down
where darkness seizes
as it pleases
descend attend commend
I say
with eager heart
the tumbling start
and judge the judges
for all with wiles
must pass through trials
when eyes are wise
unbound
be found
THE MODALITIES THE MODALITIES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Far off where the seas wind true
a contender prophecies his elation
THERE WILL BE THREE TOWERS GUIDING THE BIRD WITH THE
SILVER PACKET. INSIDE THE BARRICADED DEPOT THE REVELERS
FASHIONING A TOTEM FROM THE PAINTED CHIPS OF THE BLIND
MINISTER’S EXPLODING CRYSTAL WILL YIELD THEIR POSITIONS AT
THE DESCENDING ALTAR HERALDING THE PROMISE OF A FINAL
REWORKING OF JOYS AND FEARS WITH THE MATRONS RUSHING TO DRAIN THE SACRED POND TO CONSECRATE THE BLESSINGS THAT WERE.
IN THE EAST
CANDLES IN THE MOUNTAINS
FLY
LIKE BLOSSOMS
FROM THE GRASP OF SAINTS
IN THE WEST
A CITY MAKES READY
FOR THE CALL
TO AN IMAGE
somewhere
amidst the trembling
and the chimes
a figment lies
encumbered by its sourcelessness
its grinding through
a field of dots
that render it a starting point
for origins of weight and gain
essential to a common thrust
increasing
past the limits structured
in the bending
waving track of forms
as segments one by one
envelop and retreat
to be enveloped
in an ever grander flash
of interchanging binds and peels
that multiply the unity
rebuilding what has gone before
with added shades and tones
made real as they appear
and come to rest
proportioned for the locking of dimensions
in a slowly settling
field of dots
wherein
amidst the trembling and the chimes
a figment lies
LEMON TIME HO
TOMORROW WE GO
THE DEW DROPS DWINDLE
AND SOON THE SNOW
oh the pot and the pit
the arrow and the circumference
the banner and the hedge
which to suspend?
how to receive?
when to control?
THE PROPOSITIONS ASSIGNED
THE QUOTIENTS ASSUMED
THE OPPOSITES EXTENDED
THE PARALLELS INVOKED
THE ALLOTMENTS DIVIDED
THE SUMMATIONS CONTAINED
THE LEVELS REVIEWED
THE ENDINGS INSERTED
THE CONSTANTS ACQUIRED
THE REDUCTIONS UPHELD
THE DATA PRONOUNCED
THE ELEMENTS INSCRIBED
THE CONTINUANCE ASSURED
THE REVELATIONS DISSECTED
THE CONSTRUCTIONS ORDAINED
THE LAYERS INSTALLED
THE APPENDAGES ENTWINED
THE DEVOTIONS FULFILLED
and the merry moon comings and goings
are stayed
as saying and being go round
where they’re laid
The CREATURES of pure beauty are upon us again!
The creatures of PURE beauty are upon us again!
The creatures of pure BEAUTY are upon us again!
Oh my darlings
My tumbling beams of recompense
My last wings
WILL YOU COMFORT
IF I HASTEN
WILL YOU NOTICE
IF I DARE?
There is a light beyond light
A darkness that implodes and scrubs the dipping star
Over the tops of bridges I would run
To gather where you are
Oh my darlings
My trusty frames of happenstance
My neat wands
WILL YOU MANAGE
IF I CLING?
THE AMENITIES THE AMENITIES
------------------------------------------------------------
The person who steps into the arena
presses a toe against my cheek
whispering
THE UNTIDY MUST BE REDEEMED!
The person who jumps into the arena
presses an elbow against my thigh
shouting
THE UNCOMMITTED MUST BE ELECTED!
The person who is thrown into the arena
presses a tongue against my wrist
declaring
THE UNNEEDY MUST BE PRESERVED!
This plan is meant for those who seek to reconcile
a passion found
a passion made
a passion when requests are drawn from loss
with a half a loaf here
and a half a loaf there
strumming and stroking
a rickety chain
THE PROPENSITIES THE PROPENSITIES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh the fame of Ludovigio Pallozzi
The treasure of Mustapha Khan
The heart of Generalissimo Ghila
The visions of Black Susan of Kent
The learning of Yosip the Healer
The wit of Cardinal LaBatte
The fury of Konokotoma
The Bosom of Madame E.G.
The will of Meister von Ekker
The laughter of Inga the Fair
The rhythms of Juan de Portega
The contentions of Samuel Dump
The art of Ludmilla the Huntress
The presence of Commodore Bull
The riddles of Stronzo the Jester
The marvels of Emperor T’sing
CUT AIR
HANG WOOD
PART LACE
TIE BOOKS
SHAKE GLASS
THROW EARTH
BE HELD
configurations abound
portions and potions compound
astound
surround
REFRAIN
take
REFRAIN
take
REFRAIN REFRAIN REFRAIN
as in plumbing a desert for the hallowed sweets
of another’s illusion
REFRAIN
take take take
as in posing before the charging beast
of another’s fate
REFRAIN refrain
TAKE
I’M THINKING TONIGHT
of balalaika
drifting over the ancestral stream
where the boat boy beckons
and the captain reckons
AND THE PRINCESSES STRADDLE A DREAM
-----A DREAM PRESENTING A DREAM IN A DREAM-------
Dust in the mist on the slope over the banks of the encampment
where the trails converge in cinders and bone
REMEMBER?
remembrance
THE CRUEL PAUSE THE STRAGGLERS VEILED COILED SHORN
FOR THE RITES OF DEMAND
In The Midnight Mask Choose A Code For The Task
Be Served By The Begging Hand
REMEMBER!
A PRICE FOR THE THRUST
A SACK FOR THE GAVEL THAT PRODS THE NEED
A BUTTERY FLAME FOR THE THINNING TRIBE
A CAP FOR THE SHOVELING MUTE AT THE WELL
A TAG FOR THE GOLDEN HORN
Parade the Divine When the Blood Commends
Kneel Til The Smile Runs Full
And The Women Croon TOO LATE TOO SOON
oh there’s death in the verse
when the gift and the curse
LAY SCORN ON THE PROMISE OF TIME
In the north
watchers in a valley
stand
like figures
on a tomb of kings
In the south
a chanter is pulled
to a stone on a cliff
THE IMPERATIVES The Imperatives the imperatives
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Having conjured in place of freely receiving
THRICE BLESSED
Having knotted the simple and wept for the hidden
THRICE BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO SEE
Having shuffled our causes from sleep to shreik
THRICE BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO SEE THE COLORS
Having bundled our wisdom for daily approval
THRICE BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO SEE THE COLORS AS THE
ASHES OF THE FESTIVAL ENSHRINE
Having hunted the phantoms of unsparing love with the chattel
and dragons of pleasure’s resolve
THRICE BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO SEE THE COLORS AS THE ASHES
OF THE FESTIVAL ENSHRINE THE WOUNDS OF DANCING PRIESTS
walk easy
walk over
walk into
the clover
The worshipers come in twos
They remind us of gentler times
Of summer ice and gay facades
On their helmets are the writings of the elusive prophets
The dutiful ones who clamor
They named them at the interment
As the offerings continue
The tunnel is finally opened
And we hear drumming and a whisting moan
But at the entrance when we submit our illustrations
Of the proceedings within
Which we have been asked to imagine
We are counseled to prepare for another vigil
Still we are encourage to cheer
And we feed ourselves reasons why |