GARDEN STONES

CYCLING

"Come, let an idle man, Antoine, explain"

            Nicolaus Boileau (1636-1711), trans John Hollander

Smoky August mornings

Black Butte Dark Sisters Cup

Season the chicken, check out the stones,

keep stretching, count the times 

you walk the yard

until you don't,

these are the garden poems

and you are the you

in all of Aretha's songs

you were born by the times

you turned to listen

This is the hardware store

this is the sand paper

here is the wood

Jim Bodeen

14-15 August 2018