Another Whirl with Robert Bly

The first line of each haiku or senryu is taken from “Living at the End of Time” by Robert Bly.

When a train goes by,
bound for Denver or Detroit—
heat and pounding blood!

~~ ~~ ~~

Hearing trains at night,
old men totter to the tracks—
Denver down the line.

~~ ~~ ~~

It’s all right if we
wish that we were somewhere else—
anywhere will do.

~~ ~~ ~~

To baptize the wind,
you will need to find a way
to still its keening.

~~ ~~ ~~

The Baptist has been
using his power again—
freshets of blessings.

~~ ~~ ~~

Pagan ministers
thread needles with golden silk
to suture the sun.

~~ ~~ ~~

At the end of time,
we may find within ourselves
what we were seeking.

~~ ~~ ~~

Is a gift from God
something we pay dearly for?
What do you think, child?

~~ ~~ ~~

We don’t know what the
women are doing tonight
behind the red door.

~~ ~~ ~~

There’s nothing we need
to repair our damaged skirts—
we shall dance unclothed.

~~ ~~ ~~

Say we are living
beyond the reach of iPhones—
will our thumbs survive?

~~ ~~ ~~

For a hundred miles
not a single flower blooms—
desert owl seeks prey.

© 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher

More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 80

More The Poetry Pantry #121

Posted on October 28, 2012, in haiku, Robert Bly, senryu, The Poetry Pantry, The Sunday Whirl. Bookmark the permalink. 24 Comments.

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Comments 24

Bruce Ruston | October 28, 2012 at 12:44 am

Beyond the reach of Iphones great wit great writes

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Green Speck | October 28, 2012 at 2:26 am

Iphones and other gadgets … how can we survive without them today? 🙂

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Marianne | October 28, 2012 at 6:27 am

Wonderful use of the words! My favorite:
” To baptize the wind,
you will need to find a way
to still its keening.”

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Daydreamertoo | October 28, 2012 at 6:52 am

Ditto on Marianne’s comment. My fav is that one too. Loved the wit of the iPhones 🙂

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Hannah Gosselin | October 28, 2012 at 7:06 am

It seems I’ve picked one that others like well also!

“To baptize the wind,
you will need to find a way
to still its keening.”

I really enjoy the mental image here…and meaning.

“Pagan ministers
thread needles with golden silk
to suture the sun.”

And your first one…I love that it made me visualize an impassioned person traveling fast to a lover!!

These are ALL power-packed…great work for sure…each one holds a poignant image and point.

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anl4 | October 28, 2012 at 8:13 am

Again I love each one. Would be hard pressed to pick a favorite. Together a nice adventure. Bull’s eye!

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Laurie Kolp | October 28, 2012 at 9:05 am

Thought-provoking and lovely. I especially like:

At the end of time,
we may find within ourselves
what we were seeking.

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brenda w | October 28, 2012 at 9:46 am

Will our thumbs survive? LoL Love these gems of wisdom. You do haiku like a practice. I love what you deliver each week.

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Robyn | October 28, 2012 at 10:24 am

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could find what we are seeking before the end of time!

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JazzBumpa | October 28, 2012 at 10:41 am

The haiku master
Regales us all with wit and
Great variety.

Cheers!
JzB

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1sojournal | October 28, 2012 at 10:45 am

The two verses: wondering what the women are doing behind the red door, only to learn they are dancing unclothed, are wickedly wonderful. All of these are great. I met Robert Bly years ago. I think he would approve,

Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2012/10/28/a-list-poem-about-why/

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JulesPaige | October 28, 2012 at 11:16 am

I always enjoy your partnership with writers and the haiku you create.

For a hundred miles
not a single flower blooms—
desert owl seeks prey.

This one reminds me of watching the kestrels and Red Tail Hawk in my area. Though they have homes and trees to contend with.

I’m here:
http://julesgemsandstuff.blogspot.com/2012/10/sunday-whirl-80-revelations-part-ii.html

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Abin | October 28, 2012 at 12:36 pm

heaps of lovely lines.stunning images.loved the final stanza.also those about keening wind and suturing the sun.I havent come across many non-Irish using the word keening in this way.Christians and pagans aside, wonderful poetry.

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Sherry Marr | October 28, 2012 at 1:23 pm

I was so happy to read these again. I loved them the first time thru, even more the second. Wonderful writing.

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Misky | October 28, 2012 at 2:55 pm

Your pieces are consistently thought-provoking and a joy to read.

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Mr. Walker | October 28, 2012 at 3:56 pm

I love the variety of your poems. They always delight me!

Richard

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Janet | October 28, 2012 at 4:19 pm

As always, simply fantastic!

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kaykuala | October 28, 2012 at 9:35 pm

At the end of time,
we may find within ourselves
what we were seeking.

I like this one the most. It is a powerful statement. We look within instead of lamenting. Nicely MMT

Hank

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paige | October 29, 2012 at 12:05 am

to baptize the wind… and … we don’t know what the women are doing behind the red door.
both of these haiku are intriguing and profound in an elegant manner.

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Mama Pajama | October 29, 2012 at 2:39 am

…’suture the sun’…very nice!

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pinkladybing | October 29, 2012 at 3:49 am

you have lines that are profound and thought-provoking-

“At the end of time,
we may find within ourselves
what we were seeking.”

then you shift to something fun and engaging-

“There’s nothing we need
to repair our damaged skirts—
we shall dance unclothed.”

brilliant haiku-ing here!

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Stan Ski | October 29, 2012 at 4:58 am

Another great session of thought provocation!

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ladynimue | October 29, 2012 at 6:19 am

At the end of time,
we may find within ourselves
what we were seeking.

hopeful and a good prayer 🙂
Loved the image of suturing the sun ..

Interesting post as always !

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Snakypoet (Rosemary Nissen-Wade) | October 31, 2012 at 12:30 am

So well done in so many ways!

Reply