Now we can talk

MISSION RIDGE PARKING LOT

The mothership is a snow cave
with a Jensen stereo
and outside speakers. Sleep is a dream
crossing you with expectations
and the inner reaches of saxophones.

Oh, you're on your way, now.
Yes, sirrree, Bob. Try waking from this one.
Fall asleep with that ski cap
on your head, in the middle of reading
one of those Goddam poems,
you're just asking for it.

Jim Bodeen
Mission Ridge
9 February 2011


OLDER PHOTOGRAPHERS
ON ROB'S BIRTHDAY

Create more beauty
Camera's humility
Slowing man's shutter

Jim Bodeen
2 February 2011

●

A DAY WITH NO SHADOWS

for John Place in Paradise Basin

The skier comes from mountain's shadow

in shadow's shape with tall trees.

It's Groundhog's Day,

and the groundhog's been seen and verified.
A man with a shadow and shadow's smile
sits with the skier breathing out
the last of the day's bright sunlight.
Groundhog's Day--the best holiday of the year.
No expectations but being here--
I've been celebrating this every year since 1958.

Spend a day giving yourself a little time,
and you get the day off. Sit with groundhogs
and no expectations. Do that and the story's yours,
the man says skiing out from his shadow.
The mountain's out and so is the sun.
This is a day with no clouds
and photography's digital miracles
open every pixel recording light in light.
No one can see a thing. Sunblind,
we wait for redemption arriving in shade.

Jim Bodeen
4 February 2011


HANGING ON A TREE

Stand alone in snow
Solidarity with self
Tremor filled bowl wake

Jim Bodeen
2 February 2011


SOLIDARITY'S CANDLE

Never wavers in wind
Light walking me to Karen
Fire from ringing bells

Jim Bodeen
3 February 2011

THE NECESSARY TEMPERATURE

for Karen

We found ourselves
in snow. Faceted crystals
unbound in wind.

Jim Bodeen
2 February 2011


O GOD OF MY OWN UNDERSTANDING

for Ted Williams

The man steps out of his mimed voice
long enough so that we may see ourselves
as we are before returning to the others.
Before stepping away, he gives me an image
I will carry in every prayer to the end of my days.

Jim Bodeen
3 February 2011

GOAT ROCKS WILDERNESS

Snow covers beauty
with beauty  A palimpsest
Wonder  Shh  Wonder

Jim Bodeen
2 February 2011


NOW WE CAN TALK

The last hour of light,
Lord, on this mountain is ours.
Others have gone home.

Jim Bodeen
1 February 2011

INSIDE OF OUTSIDE--OR OUTSIDE OF INSIDE

T. S. Eliot's good word

Renunciation

Objective correlative

Jim Bodeen

1 February 2011


BEFORE HOGBACK

Always underneath the light
Underneath the idea
What others leave behind

Wild places on Highway 12
Solidarity's clarity
Raven, Coyote, Eagle

Stand before mountain with skis
Lock into bindings over snow
For a handful of syllables

Jim Bodeen
3 February 2011