A Whirl with Benjamin

 
 
Each tiny poem begins with a phrase taken from “Work” by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
 
 

 
~~ 1 ~~
 
In any language
it is hard to sustain love
for more than an hour.
 
~~ 2 ~~
 
quiet desert nights
unable to free themselves
the stars in their chains
 
~~ 3 ~~
 
our hungry questions
crowding an empty table
in a stone-cold cave
 
~~ 4 ~~
 
without the river
wrapping her bones as a cape
the chill in her soul
 
~~ 5 ~~
 
the labor of hands
lifting a golden chalice
in the sacred haze
 
~~ 6 ~~
 
a piece of music
one strain after another
from the wheezing pipes
 
~~ 7 ~~
 
Do you say river
with or without an accent?
Do not feign surprise!
 
~~ 8 ~~
 
Difficult and dry
are the grasses where we traipse
most Sunday mornings.
 
~~ 9 ~~
 
Dream of the river,
deranged and changing its course
on the slightest whim.
 
~~ 10 ~~
 
music in silence
savoring filet de boeuf
with a well-aged wine
 
~~ 11 ~~
 
It is not the work
of nuns and priests to inflame,
but to cool passions.
 
~~ 12 ~~
 
The flowers I sent—
exchange them, if you want to,
for a crown of thorns.

 
© 2014 by Magical Mystical Teacher
 
 
More Poetry Pantry #230
 
More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 190