33 (34)

1-5
then looking ours to lift our time
till showing hallows neither shame
nor shuddering for frame

6-15
but jasmine as could scent a dawn
with praise to camp in angel cry
of hunger lion cub might better
for a day to last yet darken memory 
with tongue or sooner tooth to test
a quarter-hour its eye upon oblivion

16-20
such looking as can see all face
that in distress would rather silence
root for right to serve than ever plea
to bother with their bones for child
while they remained unbroken 

21-22
so is seeing theirs as prophecy
or fearless flower to screen
its fragile retrospective spring
upon all wintry consequence.
                                                                 
                                                            (for Fouad)

Eternity

 (a translation)

Lo, it is rewon.
What? - Eternity.
For highway the sea
Alit by the sun.

Admit, sentry soul,
Dare we murmuring pair
Dull night to outdole
Same day full aflare.

Let fools count consent
To boost common till,
Bound thou fast ascent
Thine to fly at will.

Seek more than to woo,
Ye embers of satin, 
Reeking of Duty
That never says: through.

Hope there, not a chance,
Pure semblance of prayer.
Science with patience,
Torture for sure. 

Lo, it is rewon
What? - Eternity.
For highway the sea
Alit by the sun.           

       (Arthur Rimbaud, Last verses)
                            

L’Éternité

Elle est retrouvée.
Quoi ? – L’Éternité.
C’est la mer allée
Avec le soleil.

Âme sentinelle,
Murmurons l’aveu
De la nuit si nulle
Et du jour en feu.

Des humains suffrages,
Des communs élans
Là tu te dégages
Et voles selon.

Puisque de vous seules,
Braises de satin,
Le Devoir s’exhale
Sans qu’on dise : enfin.

Là pas d’espérance,
Nul orietur.
Science avec patience,
Le supplice est sûr.

Elle est retrouvée.
Quoi ? – L’Éternité.
C’est la mer allée
Avec le soleil.     

 (Arthur Rimbaud, Derniers vers)

 
     (for Sofien)

32 (33)

1-5
newer lyric boyfully to blast
with all ten fingers manning praise
6-9
when word alone can raise a sky
or sea (as warrior) in one breath
with stick for speechlessness to reservoir
all saying as unsaying deed
till done and through and dry
10-12
then nothing national for joy
save single combat felling fiction
(collar even when the flow is good
to ready some Cúchulainn forehead
further into idle sands fantasmic)
with preference for sole inheritance
12-22
viewed from the moon such youth
to bring from earth to dwell
with heart which ever taking note
though not of might alone
for wing or horse but trusting eyes
to ever feed upon a face awaiting
just as body ever shield.
                                       
                                         (for Rosa)

31(32)

gli amori, his refrain 
1-2 
owning skills in contemplation,
his plural loves
even cover for my arrogance 
3-5
then arm no vice though heavier night
and day outsummering tears to bone
                                                              within

saying I will say my preference
and never hide my preferences
                                                              within
6-7
each in proper time to tide or join
in tone to rise above the flood
8-9
his eye over my path as guide 
so horse or mule without a bridle
10-11
till my error bitless dare with charm
owning skills in contemplation,
ownest offering to err.

                                                   (per Pasquale)

30 (31)

his chant as benefit
1-6
with twice a breath to separate
two glides across an alphabetic gene
unnetting hand commended spirit 
7-9
thence hate but fiction breeding past 
now feet for roomier gladness hast
10-14
each sooner day this single sob would
sudden aging body-eyed to shame
15-19
his praying there you are here I am
was ever lesser arrogance for psalm
20-23
as merer presence more than grief
that palaces its tongue in haste 
that has no secrecy for acronym
24-25
as when I did call to him at length
for courage, he did listen, and for strength.

                                    (for Bertrand)

28 (29)

his chant
1-2
with gravity for ornament
to prostrate as shadow surface
limbs face to ground a trinity
3-9
then lower body volume to resound
in cedar flowing could the seas
outvoice in majesty their Lebanon
or horn its Sirion sky with forest
over lowing hind in calf
10-11
yea quiet was before the flood of stars
did play no louder preference.

27 (28)

his
1-2
would I not die
with arms to sky for sanctuary
3-5
denied by harmful mind
with only salary for hand or heart
6-9
to be disproven by surprise in time
unnationally hallowing an heir
to improvise a host.

26 (27)

his
1-3
not the insufficient sun
for trust nor uniform
4-6
to trumpet my request from rock
but tent ahead to contemplate
7-9
such face as face can ever grant
to better hymn and never lack reply
10-14
were parenting or priestly path
to narrow lie with hopeless heart.

Haiku I

In the dead of night on Christmas Eve,
By the motor inn, a vigilant stone pine
With a blackbird in effulgent song.

                                        (Bordeaux 25th Dec. 2018)

Haïku I

En pleine nuit de Noël,
Vigile devant l’hôtel, ce pin parasol 
Qui cache le chant lumineux d'un merle.
                                                          
(pour Jacqueline & Philippe, Bordeaux le 25 déc. 2018)

25 (26)

his
1-3
to sound my words
for justice or eternity
with eyes alone on grace
4-7
for seat or walk or tongue
to crowd who little thought
innocence could table telling
only bread and wine amaze
8-12
from bloody residence to body
better empty-handed
till its barefoot joy suffice
and hour acclaim.

24 (25)

his
1-22
not being shameless,
yet having faith
such as
to have no shame.

23 (24)

his chant
1-6
riverwise or owning shore
from sea to summit truthfully
for double answer find    within 

7-10
whence all doors will raise their lintels
for an entrance with such entrance
as to lift

22 (23)

his chant
1-3
till nothing lack for leaf or stem
doth proper noun to stream his quiet
inching limb by limb follow the line
4-6
in shadow mining courage then
all pain anointed foot to head
as table laid for overflowing word.

                                                           (for Dr Doe Dotz)