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Vases Made of Mud
Vases made of mud must pass
Quickly through the looking-glass;
They are bouncing with the strain.
The white pitcher groans again
In a rhythm dark and deep
Of a work that will not keep
Till your dallying is done.
See, bright smears of morning sun
Lie heavy on the table!
Sing of them, if you’re able,
Though your tongue may clang like brass—
Do not let this moment pass!
Poem © 2019 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Sunday’s Whirligig #240
More Pantry of Poetry and Prose #4 at Poets United
Straining
Saguaro cactus, Sonoran Desert, Maricopa County, Arizona
autumn afternoon—
straining to hear a wren’s note
as shadows lengthen
Haiku and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
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
Pebble in Her Shoe
to ruin her day
the gods’ wicked messenger—
pebble in her shoe
~~ ~~ ~~
the strain of knowing
her way will be agony—
pebble in her shoe
~~ ~~ ~~
her massive headache
from walking torturous ways—
pebble in her shoe
© 2014 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Sunday Scribblings 2: “Pebble in Her Shoe”
More Three Word Wednesday: “Massive, Ruin, Strain”
Magical Mystical Teacher 