Category Archives: Adrienne Rich
Whirlings: for Adrienne Rich
Poet Adrienne Rich died at her home in Santa Cruz, California on Tuesday, 27 March 2012. Each haiku or senryu below begins with a five-syllable phrase taken from poems in Rich’s book Midnight Salvage, and includes one of this week’s Wordle words.
Their newfound passions
will trick them time and again—
yet nothing’s wasted.
~~ ~~ ~~
guitars at sunset
taste of wine still on my tongue—
tell me your story
~~ ~~ ~~
You wanted the words
to be in the shape of plums?
Here, take just one bite.
~~ ~~ ~~
on Tomales Bay
string drifting in the current—
a narrative thread
~~ ~~ ~~
How can you hear me
if all I do is whisper
ten thousand proverbs?
~~ ~~ ~~
There is the table
where I wish to be seated—
sonnets for breakfast.
~~ ~~ ~~
From frugal larders
we will scrounge enough to pack
for our odyssey.
~~ ~~ ~~
Feed the feral cats,
but do not try to pet them—
they know where you live.
~~ ~~ ~~
a mammal heartbeat
small paw groping for purchase
on the milk-filled teat
~~ ~~ ~~
thirty years in love
and her amber eyes still shine—
she’s heard all my jokes
~~ ~~ ~~
For personal use
you need one small point of light
to pierce the darkness.
~~ ~~ ~~
under the freeway
the smell of unwashed bodies—
Church of the Homeless
© 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 50
More The Poetry Pantry #95
More Poetry Picnic Week 29
will trick them time and again—
yet nothing’s wasted.
~~ ~~ ~~
guitars at sunset
taste of wine still on my tongue—
tell me your story
~~ ~~ ~~
You wanted the words
to be in the shape of plums?
Here, take just one bite.
~~ ~~ ~~
on Tomales Bay
string drifting in the current—
a narrative thread
~~ ~~ ~~
How can you hear me
if all I do is whisper
ten thousand proverbs?
~~ ~~ ~~
There is the table
where I wish to be seated—
sonnets for breakfast.
~~ ~~ ~~
From frugal larders
we will scrounge enough to pack
for our odyssey.
~~ ~~ ~~
Feed the feral cats,
but do not try to pet them—
they know where you live.
~~ ~~ ~~
a mammal heartbeat
small paw groping for purchase
on the milk-filled teat
~~ ~~ ~~
thirty years in love
and her amber eyes still shine—
she’s heard all my jokes
~~ ~~ ~~
For personal use
you need one small point of light
to pierce the darkness.
~~ ~~ ~~
under the freeway
the smell of unwashed bodies—
Church of the Homeless
© 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 50
More The Poetry Pantry #95
More Poetry Picnic Week 29
Haiku My Heart: for Adrienne Rich
Poet Adrienne Rich died at her home in Santa Cruz, California on Tuesday, 27 March 2012. Each haiku or senryu below begins with a five-syllable phrase taken from poems in Rich’s book Midnight Salvage.
you get up and go
when the wild places call you—
the blankets are thin
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
I wanted to go
where no one had gone before—
a door creaked open.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
drink from thick tumblers
oceans of sweet mango juice
tell me what happens
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
Would it gladden you
to know that I have written
seven songs for you?
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
All I wanted was
fragments of loaves and fishes
gathered from the feast.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
Are you so afraid
the mermaids cannot save you
that you shun the sea?
Text and photo (Northern Arizona) © 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Haiku My Heart at Recuerda Mi Corazon
More Skywatch Friday
More Himmelsk
when the wild places call you—
the blankets are thin
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
I wanted to go
where no one had gone before—
a door creaked open.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
drink from thick tumblers
oceans of sweet mango juice
tell me what happens
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
Would it gladden you
to know that I have written
seven songs for you?
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
All I wanted was
fragments of loaves and fishes
gathered from the feast.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
Are you so afraid
the mermaids cannot save you
that you shun the sea?
Text and photo (Northern Arizona) © 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Haiku My Heart at Recuerda Mi Corazon
More Skywatch Friday
More Himmelsk
Six Songs of Joy: for Adrienne Rich
Poet Adrienne Rich died at her home in Santa Cruz, California on Tuesday, 27 March 2012. Each haiku or senryu below begins with five syllables taken from poems in Rich’s book Midnight Salvage.
in the motel room
seven crickets sing for joy
empty bed tonight
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
Who would not applaud
the plum tree’s raucous blooming?
Curmudgeons, perhaps.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
your upstairs hideout
a den of budding writers
scribbling songs of joy
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
In the beige notebook
write only words that matter—
even broken ones.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
In her new language
she sings of running naked
through the April rain.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
fresh from the freeway
she pours a cup of coffee
fumbling for the cream
Text © 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Haiku My Heart at Recuerda Mi Corazon
More Share the Joy Thursday
seven crickets sing for joy
empty bed tonight
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
Who would not applaud
the plum tree’s raucous blooming?
Curmudgeons, perhaps.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
your upstairs hideout
a den of budding writers
scribbling songs of joy
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
In the beige notebook
write only words that matter—
even broken ones.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
In her new language
she sings of running naked
through the April rain.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
fresh from the freeway
she pours a cup of coffee
fumbling for the cream
Text © 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Haiku My Heart at Recuerda Mi Corazon
More Share the Joy Thursday
Magical Mystical Teacher 