RANDOM WIND

A L L  I  S A I D  W A S  T H A T
Y O U  C A N ' T  P R E D I C T  T H E  F U T U R E

R A N D O M  W I N D
C A N  T U R N  J U S T  TOO  F A S T  D R E A M S
F R O M  E A S T  T O  W E S T
N O R T H  T O  S O U T H

O N L Y  C A N  Y O U  P I C K  A  P O I N T
O N  T H A T  F A R  S H O R E
A N D  G L I D E  I N T O  T H E  W A V E

 (J A N / 9 6 -R E H)

OF JOHN FRANKLIN GROGAN

 T H E   W I R E   F E N C E
 S U R R O U N D I N G   H O U S E   A N D   Y A R D
 I S   R U S T I N G   S A N C T U A R Y

 S T R A Y   D O G S   A N D   T I M E
 P A U S E  
 A T   T H E   G A T E

 D R Y   L E A V E S
 O N   S T E P P I N G   S T O N E S
 H A V E   B E E N   T H E R E   S I N C E   S E P T E M B E R

 S Y C A M O R E   T R E E S   A B O U T   T H E   Y A R D
 G A V E   S H A D E   O N   S U M M E R   D A Y S ,
 T H E I R   B A R E   L I M B S   I N   T H E   F A L L
 W O U L D   S O M E T I M E S   S C R A P E   A G A I N S T   T H E   R O O F

 A   W H I T E   P O R C H   S W I N G
 S W I N G S   E M P T Y   N O W,
 T H E   D A Y S   A R E   J U S T   T O O   C O L D
 T O   S I T   O U T S I D E

  I T   I S   D E C E M B E R,
 A N D   H E   R E M E M B E R S
 M O R E   T H A N   S I X T Y   W I N T E R S

 A   S T I C K   O F   W O O D
 T O   P R O D   T H E   F I R E,
 D E C E M B E R ' S   P R I M A L   C O M F O R T,
 H E   T U R N S   T H E   C O A L S
 I N S I D E   A   B L A C K   I R O N   S T O V E

 T H E N   S I T S

 D U S T Y   W I N D O W   P A N E S
 C O N T A I N   T H E   C O A L   F I R E ' S   W A R M T H 
 A N D   F R A M E   D I S T O R T E D   V I S I O N S
 I N   T H E I R   G L A S S

 V I S I O N S  
 O F   A   T I M E  
 T O O   Q U I C K L Y   P A S S I N G

 O F   C O R N   F I E L D S
 W I T H   S T R A I G H T   R O W S
 A N D   T W O   G O O D   M U L E S   T O   P L O W   T H E M

 S T R O N G   Y O U N G   M A N ' S   H A N D S
 C L E N C H E D   T I G H T O N   S M O O T H   O A K
 W O U L D   G U I D E   T H E   B L A D E
 O N   S U M M E R   D A Y S
 T H R O U G H   M O I S T ,   D A R K   G R O U N D

 " B A C K   T H E N ,  
 I   W A S   M U C H   O F   A   M A N "

 A L O N E   N O W
 I N T O   T H E   D A R K   N I G H T,

 I T   H A D   N O T   A L W A Y S   B E E N   S O



 (FOR GRANDDADDY -D E C / 8 / 1 9 8 0
 R E H)





   

  

FOR WINTER

WE THOUGHT WE WERE
CHARLES INGLES
IN SOME LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE DREAM

REMBRANDT AND LARRY RIVERS
BREAKING WOOD FOR WINTER
COMING FAST

FASTER THAN WE KNEW

UPON US

(FOR DOUG, AUG.6, 1985)

OPEN WINDOW OF THE MORNING

OUR THOUGHTS BECOME
LIKE MONSTERS
IN THE NIGHT

UNSEEN DARK FACES
WITH BLIND EYES
SEARCHING FOR
OUR HIDDEN SELVES
BENEATH THE COVERS

THEN THE BRIGHT FIRE OF HOPE

THE DISTANT
OPEN WINDOW
OF THE MORNING

(NOV/22/1980)
REH

VISION

I STILL SEARCH
FOR THE VISION
IN A FIRE
BESIDE STONES RIVER

(FOR PEGGY
FEB/13/1984
REH)

ULTRASOUND

AND SO
YOU ARE MY GRANDCHILD

THIS LITTLE BEATING HEART
PULSING
JAN, BUD, PEGGY, AND ME
INTO A TIME
WE WILL NOT SEE

PULSING DREAMS OF
ARMS, LEGS, FINGERS, TOES
ROCKING CLOSE TO MOTHER'S HEART
HOLDING DADDY'S HAND TO CROSS THE STREET
BEDTIME SONGS
AND STORIES
WORDS AND WISHES THAT WILL BECOME YOUR POEM

I LEAVE IT TO PHILOSOPHERS
AND POLITICIANS
TO SAY WHEN YOU ARE HUMAN

YOUR BEATING LITTLE HEART
ALREADY KNOWS
THE MUSIC OF THE STARS AND MOON

(to Hannah, sept.14/98, r.e.h.)

A TURN AWAY

I THINK THAT WHEN I FOLLOW TRACKS
IMPRESSED ICE COLD IN CLAY
BESIDE DECEMBER STREAMS
THAT I'LL NOT LIKELY EVER SEE THE DEER

HE'LL BE
ALWAYS
THAT TURN AWAY
BEYOND THE LARGE STONE THERE
THAT BENDS THE WATER

IT IS THE SEARCH THAT MATTERS

(JULY/1985)

FROM TURN TO TURN

THE SUDDEN MORNING RAIN
HAS LEFT ME
COLD, WET HAIR
AND UNSURE FOOTING
STILL, I'M DRAWN FROM TURN TO TURN
DOWNWARD
FLAT ROCK, SOMETIME,
MY STEPPING STONE

GRAY BARK HICKORY CHILDREN

THE CHILDREN OF THE OAK AND LOCUST
LINE MY WAY

SILENT GREEN AND BROWN LIFE
BRUSHING TALL BOOT LEATHER

(MAY/25/1980)
REH

TRIBAL FIRE

TRAVEL MAP LINE MILES
I-40, 24,75

LEAVE TROUP COUNTY GEORGIA
AND THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU
BEHIND

FIND WELCOME IN OLD BRICK
THAT REMEMBERS HOME

WELCOME COCKER SPANIEL KISSES
ON THE FACES AND MEMORIES
OF CHILDREN

EXCHANGE GREETINGS
OF LATHE TURNED WOOD
AND POTATOES
DUG FROM SACRED GROUND
FOR THE SMELL OF COUNTRY HAM

WELCOME
FAMILY
AGAIN

GATHER AFTER SUPPERTIME

REST IN THE WARMTH
OF TRIBAL FIRE
THAT BURNS A SONY ORANGE
GREEN
RED

SHARE THE ORANGE BOWL

GREASE PAINT TIGER PAWS ON CHEEKS
ARE MAGIC FOR THE HUNT

DANCE AGAIN TONIGHT
AROUND NEW FIRE

IN WINTER HUNGRY CAVES
CAVE BEAR NEBRASKA
FALLS BEFORE OUR SPEARS AND STONES

CLEMSON
NUMBER ONE

TOMORROW
TRIBAL FIRE
WILL BURN
ORANGE NYLON JACKET BANNERS
IN WINDOWS GOING HOME

TOMORROW
WILLIE NELSON
WILL SING OLD FIRST BAPTIST SONGS
TO HIS MOTHER
AND WE WILL SEARCH AGAIN
COLUMBIA ARMY /NAVY SURPLUS STORES
IN NASHVILLE TENNESSEE

(FOR JIM AND DONA
MOMMA AND DADDY
PEGGY,LEILA,DELLA
AND BRANDON)
JAN/10/1982-REH

DEER TRACKS

BEYOND
MOSS BANK
LEAF BROWN
YESTERDAYS
WHERE DEER TRACKS
STOP AND DRINK,
MAPLE BRANCHES DRIP DOWN
RAIN DECEMBER TEARS
INTO THE QUICK SPILL AND SPLASH

LIQUID STONES
CLICK
ONE AGAINST THE OTHER
AND FOLLOW SOME OBSCURE ETERNAL PLAN

MY PATH AND TEARS
REACH OUT
IN SEARCH OF BAPTISM

I SEEK AGAIN
THE DREAM

SPEAK TO ME
JUST SPEAK

YOU MUST STILL BE

I'VE LOOKED TO REASON
LOOKED TO GOD

SOME THINGS, I THINK,
JUST HAPPEN

(FOR DOUG
MAR/25/1985-REH)

OUR TIME AND PLACE

THOSE DAYS WERE ABOUT
OUR TIME AND PLACE

GONE NOW

PACKED AWAY IN DUSTY TRUNKS
WITH OLD CLOTHES IN THE ATTIC

BUT, UP THERE IN THEIR PLACES
ALL THE SAME

(1975-REH)

OUR THREAD

EIGHT O'CLOCK
NOVEMBER NIGHT
THE HIGH SKY PLANE
THAT ROLLS UNSEEN
INTO THE COMING STORM
IS NASHVILLE BOUND

HE SOON WILL BANK HIS WINGS
ABOVE YOUR HOUSE
DESCENDING

AS RAIN BEGINS
TO SPOT THE DARK PORCH
SCARING CATS TO HIGHER GROUND
I REACH A PRAYER FOR YOU
INTO HIS FAST DEPARTURE

HE IS OUR THREAD
MY BROTHER

(FOR JIM)

JUST WHAT YOU THOUGHT I WAS

I WAS JUST WHAT YOU THOUGHT I WAS,
LIVING OUT YONDER
ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE WIND,
NORTH,
ABOVE THE TREE LINE,
OUT OF REACH

IF THE EARTH SHOOK
AND THE STARS FELL
I MIGHT PICK UP AND MOVE

BUT, MAYBE NOT TOO VERY FAR AWAY

(OCT/1976)

THERE'S JUST THIS ONCE

WE SAW HER THEN
IN A YELLOW ROOM
AS SHE WAS BORN TO US

TINY
SMALL BREATHING
LIFE IN LIFE FOREVER

WATCHING EVERY MOVEMENT
HEARING EVERY WHISPER
REACHING OUT TO TOUCH A FACE OR HAND

AND EVEN THEN
THE ROAD OUTSIDE
ALREADY LED AWAY
THERE'S JUST THIS ONCE
AND NEVER ONCE AGAIN

(FOR LEILA- APR/19/1975)
REH

THIS DAY

THIS DAY
YOUR CELEBRATION WORDS
HAVE DRIFTED TO THE STARS

YOUR MAGIC RINGS
FOREVER
BRING THEM HOME

(FOR CHIP AND JANE
JULY/27/1981)
REH

THE RICE IS SWEPT AWAY

RENTED SUITS
ARE ALL RETURNED

GIFTS ALL OPENED
PLACED ON SHELVES OF MEMORY

THE CAKE IS CUT
AND SHARED WITH FRIENDS

PICTURE MEMORIES
SAFE
IN PLASTIC PAGES

NEW RINGS FIT
WITHOUT NOTICE

THE RICE IS SWEPT AWAY

MEMORIES FOREVER

NOW COMES THE HARD PART

NOW COME THE BILLS TO PAY

NOW COMES THE LIVING
CELEBRATION

(FOR CHIP AND JANE
JULY/1981)
REH

TEN P.M.

A MOTH FLOATS DROWNED
IN A MASON JAR
HALF FILLED WITH WATER
RUST RED
FROM COOLING STEEL

A TINY SPIDER
CRAWLS A PATH OF SKY BLUE LINE
ABOVE MY WORDS

TWO BATS
AIR DANCE
THE FLOODLIGHT

SHADOW BATS
MELT ACROSS OAK BOARDS
LIQUID DANCING
INTO DARK

(AUG/3/1985)
REH

TEMPORARY SHADE

AS YOU SLEEP
A ROOM AWAY
WITH SYLVESTER
AND THE PLASTIC BUNNY,
I'M WRAPPED
IN HOW WE MADE THE TENT
TOGETHER
IN SUNDAY GRASS
OF OLD TARP
CAST OFF STICKS AND STRING
BETWEEN THE SILVER MAPLES

I TOOK YOUR PICTURE THERE
WITH DELLA
AND THE LADY BUG

WE WATCHED THE GRAY WINGED HAWK
DIVE FAST
TO PREY
IN DONALD JORDAN'S FIELD

LIFE

AND WHAT IS LIFE
BUT MAKESHIFT TENTS
A TEMPORARY SHADE

AND WHAT IS DEATH
BUT A GRAY WINGED HAWK
SHARP SIGHT
AND DIVING FAST

(FOR LEILA
APR/28/1981)
REH

THE TRUTH OF TALES

LIFE IS LIVED
IN TINY MOMENTS OF SPACE

CLOCK TICK
HEARTBEAT
EYE BLINK
BITS OF TIME

WHAT WILL BE OF ME
WILL BE TOLD BY MY CHILDREN
TO MY GRANDCHILDREN

THE TRUTH OF TALES
LOST
IN THE RETELLING

AT THE SNOW EDGE

SOMETIMES
OLD HIPPIE MOUNTAIN MEN
WALK TO THE SNOW EDGE
OF THIS DEEP POPLAR GLEN
AND STARE INTO
LOG CABIN DREAMS

MOUNTAIN MEN DON'T CRY
FOR DREAMS

THEY KNOW THE WOLF
CAN SMELL THE SALT OF TEARS

(FOR PEGGY
FEB/13/1986)
REH

SNOW DAY

A RABBIT SWINGS
IN DELLA'S CHRISTMAS SWING
WHILE CATS LICK BREAKFAST GRAVY
IN THE SNOW

LEILA WRAPS HERSELF
IN YARDS OF TOILET PAPER

PEGGY FEEDS THE BABY
WHILE I SEARCH FOR WORD
OF JESUS
IN THE WRITINGS
OF JOSEPHUS

SNAILS

I WRITE
SILENT TEARS
TONIGHT
BECAUSE I DIDN'T
WATCH YOUR SNAILS WITH YOU

AND YOU WERE SO EXCITED
AS TWO NEW FRIENDS
MADE SLOW CRAWLS
OVER DAMP ROCKS
AND CAT'S EYE MARBLES

I SAID THAT I WAS TIRED
FROM PLANTING CORN

FOR THIS
AND OTHER LOST MOMENTS
SILENT TEARS

(FOR LEILA
APR/23/1981)

SKY GIFTS

RAINDROP
MAGIC TEARS,
SKY GIFTS,
COLLECT ON LEAVES
FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS
BETWEEN EARTH GRAINS

LIFE DRINKS THEM UP
AND GIVES THEM BACK TO AIR

FOREVER
CIRCLES

ON SKIPPING STONES

STONE LAYER DIARIES
TURN TRUTH PAGE
AGES
LIFE ON LIFE
WASHED UP
AMONG THE COLORED BITS
OF BROKEN GLASS
AND WHITE BIRD TRACKS

GRANDFATHERS WHO WALK THERE
SOON WRITE DOWN THEIR STORIES
ON FLAT STONES
AND SKIP THEM
TOWARD THE OTHER SHORE

(FOR PEGGY,FEB/13/1986)
REH)

SILENCE

THE GROUND
SNOW FROZEN
DAY ON DAY
DECEMBER
AFTER CHRISTMAS TIME
REPEATING BOOT STEPS
CRUNCHING WEIGHT
THROUGH TALL
LEAF BARREN
POPLAR WOODS

THE VERY AIR IS FROZEN

GO DEEPER STILL

GO LOST INTO
THE SILENCE

(JAN/15/1981)

IN THE SHARING

FRIENDS
ARE FRIENDS
WHEN EARLY BREAKFAST COFFEE CUPS
ARE WARM

IN THE SHARING
OF LOG HOUSE DREAMS

IN THE TALK
THAT IS BETWEEN DRIVE UP CUSTOMERS

AND WHEN THE WINTER COMES
ARE FRIENDS

(FOR BECKY
AUG/20/1981)

SEARCHING FOR YOUR SHADOW

I TRY TO WASH YOU FROM MY HANDS

TRY ALL THE SOAPS AND ALCOHOL

FOR WEEKS
I HUNTED YOU
AMONG CORN STALKS
AND BEAN STICKS

SUFFERED IN SILENCE
THE AFTERNOON BITE OF FLIES
SEARCHING FOR YOUR SHADOW

WATCHED THE MOVEMENT
OF MIDNIGHT CONSTELLATIONS
WAITING
FOR THE BREAKING OF A STALK
TO CATCH YOU IN MY LIGHT

I PRAYED SOMETIMES
TO KILL YOU

THIS MORNING
WITH YOUR GRAY-BROWN HIDE
TACKED OUT TO DRY
I WOULD TRADE ALL OF THE CORN YOU'VE LEFT
TO WASH YOU FROM MY HANDS

(SEPT/1/1982)
REH

SEED BOUND

THE CORN
SEED BOUND
AND BURIED IN THE EARTH
IS WAITING FOR THE RAIN

THE RAIN IS STILL
A WARM
SUMMER CLOUD PROMISE

DISTANT

ROLLING FAST
ON A GRAY WIND

(APR/20/1981)

IN OUR SEARCH

THE RIFLE CRACKS IT'S RIM FIRE SOUND

A DR.PEPPER CAN SNAPS BACK
AND ROLLS BEHIND A LOG

WHERE IS THE SHELL?

WE PICK THROUGH DAMP LEAVES
IN OUR SEARCH

AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN, MY BROTHER,
AFTER MANY YEARS AND MILES

(FOR JIM
MAR/31/1980)

ON ROLLING UP A MEMORY

I LOOK FOR YOU
THROUGH AN EMPTY STRETCHER FRAME
THAT WAS YOUR ARMY JACKET PAINTING
AND YOU
COMING BACK TO THE WORLD

(FOR DOUG
AUG/6/1985)

TAKE REFUGE

EARLY
TO WALK THE DEW GRASS FIELD,
TO BREATHE THE MIST
OF A PREMATURE FALL MORNING,
MY GRANDFATHER
I HANG YOUR SACRED GIFT
ABOUT ME,
FASTEN COPPER PAY DAY BUTTONS,
TAKING REFUGE
IN BLUE JEAN BLUE,
INSIDE
SAM NICELY'S WHITE DOVE PIN
RECALLS THE DREAM

QUENCHING

LOST IN CHERRY FORM
AND FISHTAIL STEEL
I HAVE NOT NOTICED THE GATHERING

A DROP
THEN TWO
THEN MORE
AND THE STILL, HOT DAY
OF POUNDING T-SHIRT SWEAT
IS QUENCHED,
LIKE MY BLADE'S
HOT STEEL
ITALIAN WATER BIRTH

(JULY/17/1981)
REH

YOU IN THE POSTCARD

YOU IN THE POSTCARD
LIVE SOMEWHERE
IN THE SPACE OF WORDS
BEHIND A GLOSSY PICTURE
OF MADONNA COL BAMBINO

THE RED INK TRACKS
OF A QUICK FLAIR PEN
ARE TRACES OF YOUR BEING
ROBERT,
POET

(FOR ROBERT,POET
IN PISTOIA)

PATHS

MAYBE YOU HAVE JUST BECOME
THAT BRIGHT ORANGE STAR
THAT RISES WITH THE MOON

I BURN YOUR LIGHT INTO MY SOUL

OUR PATHS WILL VERY SURELY CROSS AGAIN

(FOR DOUG)

PAPA

PAPA WATCHED
THE FACTORY GATE,
PACIFIC MILLS,
IN UNIFORM
AND THIRTY-EIGHT SPECIAL,
PRESSED NEATLY,
BLUE STEEL CLEANED AND OILED,
WAITING FOR US,
THREE LITTLE BOYS,
TO COME
AND WALK HIM HOME

(DEC/11/1980)

OTHER HANDS

THEY STAND AMONG THE AGES,
THESE MONOLITHS OF STONE
ON LEFT AND RIGHT,
AS I DESCEND A MISTY PATH
BETWEEN

THEIR GRAY WEIGHT SURROUNDS ME

I TOUCH THEIR MOSS DAMP WALLS
AND KNOW THE ANCIENT TOUCH
OF OTHER HANDS

(MAY/25/1980)
REH

JACOB'S FIREBALL

IN THE DARK FINISH
OF ANOTHER SATURDAY
COLD WIND
BLOWS DOWN FROM NASHVILLE
STIRRING DRY CORN STALKS
AND CEDAR TREES
OF BEDFORD COUNTY
WITH WSM GRAND OLD OPRY
AND FROZEN RAIN

ROY ACUFF
MARTHA WHITE
AND THE LANKY GHOST
OF HANK WILLIAMS
FORM A FAMILIAR CIRCLE
AROUND JOHN GROGAN
AND THE HOT IRON
OF JACOB'S FIREBALL

THEY SING THE OLD SONGS

BLOW FRENCH HARP
LOCOMOTIVE WHISTLE RECOLLECTIONS
THAT CATCH SLOW CLIMBING FREIGHT TRAINS
BOUND FOR KENTUCKY HILLS
AND WORK

THIS NIGHT
NO ONE WILL SHARE
THE RAMBLING OF TALES

A FEATHER BED
OF SOLITUDE
WILL REST FRAIL STRENGTH

THE DOG WILL SHIVER
FROM HIS FRONT PORCH SLEEP
AND GROWL AT SOMETHING
OUT THERE IN THE DARK

(FOR JOHN GROGAN
OCT/23/1981-REH)

ABOVE NIGHTLINE

ABOVE NIGHTLINE
AND ANGRY JAPANESE
A GREAT SKY MONSTER
SLOWLY EATS THE MOON

WILL IT TURN TO BLOOD
OR DISAPPEAR FOREVER?

I SEE
AS SEEN
PRIMEVAL
FROM THE CAVE
AND SEEK THE MAGIC

ON STARTING A NEW FIRE

I'VE WRAPPED AND TIED UP
DAYS AND YEARS

DREAMED THEM TO
A NEW STRUCK FLAME
BEYOND THE ASHLEY DOOR

SMOKE DREAMS RISE
THE CHIMNEY
AND BLOW DOWN HARD
AMONG DARK OAK AND POPLAR BRANCHES

(MAR/10/1986)
REH

IN NEW DECEMBER

OBSCURE IN MIST
DECEMBER DRIFTING
UP FROM DAVID'S PASTURE
FOUR SPIRIT DEER
STOP STILL
LOOK UP
JUST THERE
BEYOND THE GARDEN'S BROKEN CORN

THEY ARE
PALE SHADOWS
TESTING AIR
FOR WHAT I AM

IN WORSHIP
AT THE OPEN DOOR
I BREATHE A FROZEN PRAYER

YOU IN MY SHADOW

YOU IN MY SHADOW
ARE MY SHADOW
AND MY REFLECTION

MY SMALL FRIEND,
QUIET,
BESIDE ME IN TALL GRASS

THE TOUCH OF YOUR HAND
IS THE TOUCH OF SOME
LONG AGO
HALF FORGOTTEN
ME,
EYES BLINKING
TOWARD GRAY SEPTEMBER WIND

LOOKING FOR TOMORROW

(FOR LEILA
SEPT/17/1980)
REH

BONE MUSEUM

THE SOULS HAVE LEFT
YOUR DECK RAIL BONE MUSEUM,
BLEACHED WHITE
WITH SUN AND TIME

SOMEONE'S ASSORTED
DOGS AND CATTLE,
DISCARDED
TO THE  SOULLESS HEAP,
RETURN TO EARTH
RETURN INTO THE SKY

AND YET
THE FORMS STILL ARE

WE DRINK THEIR BEAUTY

KNOW THE WEATHERED COOLNESS
ON OUR FACE
AND FINGER TIPS
AS THEY
BECOME US

(FOR CHRISTIAN)

EAST END MOBILE

THROUGH RAIN WASHED
MONDAY MORNING WINDSHIELD,
MOBILE SERVICE
IN RED AND BLUE

A WINGED HORSE LEAPS
WITHIN HIS BUBBLE
THROUGH GRAY CONCRETE SPACE

THE REGULAR IS OUT OF GAS
AND OF THE MEN SIGN
THERE IS ONLY
ME

FLIGHT MEMORY

A FEATHER
FROM THE WING OF HAWK
IS LIGHT
ALMOST AS SHADOW
ON THE STONE

FLIGHT MEMORY

LOST SOUL
OF AIR DRIFT
SEPARATION
CARNIVOROUS FLIGHT
ABANDONS YOU
IN HUNGER'S RABBIT CHASE
TO EARTH
AND TO THE SKY

MAGIC

MAYBE ITS NOT CHRISTIAN
TO PRAY TO TREES
AND NEW GROWN CORN
OR WORSHIP WATER FALLS

STILL

I FIND THE ENDLESS
ENDLESS
ROLL OF EARTH
FROM SUN TO SUNSET
MIDNIGHT INTO DAWNING
TO BE A SACRED PASSAGE

MAYBE TIME
IS ALL THERE IS
THAT TOO IS SACRED
ENDLESS

I  GUESS I REALLY DON'T BELIEVE
IN MAGIC ANYMORE

ANOTHER LIVING ROOM

ANOTHER LIVING ROOM
AND ME
THE SAME, BUT DARKER,
IMAGE

BEYOND THE IMAGE
MOONLIT CATS
WALK WOODEN RAILS
BEFORE THE SPIRIT TREES

I HOLD THE IMAGE
IT MARKS MY PLACE IN TIME

LINES

TORNADO TWISTED BARBED WIRE
RUSTING
BURIED PARTLY IN LEAF AND SNOW,
A TRIANGLE'S CORNER
ON SOME COURTHOUSE TAX MAP

I STEP ACROSS THE LINE,
MY LINE,
AND ENTER SOMEONE ELSE'S LAND

(JAN/15/1981)
REH

L I G H T S

T H E R E ' D   B E E N   A L M O S T   T H R E E   D A Y S
 O F   W I N D   A N D   F R O S T   A N D   S A W M I L L   D U S T
 S I N C E   H E ' D   S L E P T   I N   H I S   O W N   B E D

 D R I F T I N G   P A S T   D I S P L A Y   W I N D O W S
 H E   B A R E L Y   N O T I C E D
 T H E   T I N Y   C O L O R E D   L I G H T S
 B L I N K I N G   O N E   T H E N   T W O
 O F F   A N D   O N   A G A I N
 O R   B I N G   C R O S B Y   A N D   T H E   S I N G I N G   A N G E L   C H O I R

 H E   H A D   N O   P R E S E N T S
 F O R   H E R
 O R   F O R   T H E   C H I L D R E N

 T H E   C O L D   W I N D
C U T   T H R O U G H   D E N I M  T O   T H E   H E A R T

 M I L E S   A N D   M I L E S
 O F   M E A S U R E D   S T E P S
 A N D   T H E N
 T H E   L I G H T S   O F   H O M E


(O C T / 3 0 / 1 9 7 3,
 R E V I S E D - J A N / 2 0 0 0 )
 R E H

APPROACHING LIGHT

SOME SAY THE END
IS A DARK TUNNEL
APPROACHING LIGHT

GOD?

A COPPER CLOCK
TICKS MINUTES
INTO YEARS

(AUG/7/1981)
REH

IN TIME

BLUE SKY
DOGWOOD TREE
AND STOP
ARE TRAPPED REFLECTIONS
SHIMMERING
IN A YELLOW CURB'S PUDDLE,
TO WITNESS,
I AM THE EARTH
I CLEANSE YOU FROM MY SPACE
IN TIME
YOUR STOP SIGN STEEL
BECOMING RUST
BECOMING DOGWOOD PETALS

IMAGE-SUMMER 1982

I CANNOT TOUCH YOU
THERE BEHIND THAT SCREEN

YOU FLOAT IN PHOTO YESTERDAY
IN A SUMMER GONE
BEFORE YOUR SECOND BIRTHDAY

HOLD CLOSE TO HEART
YOUR TEDDY BEARS
THEY DREAM YOU THROUGH THE WIRE
TO ME

(FOR DELLA
MAR/24/1983)
REH

I FOUND US AGAIN

I FOUND US AGAIN TONIGHT
PRINTED ON A DRYPOINT HILL
BEHIND THE MUSTACHED MAN

HE IS MARK TWAIN
AND ME

HIS WIFE
EVERYONE'S GRANDMOTHER
AND YOU

AN OLD LAMP TOUCHES YESTERDAY
TIME FADING
BURNT SIENNA BROWN

(FOR PEGGY
JAN/14/1982)
REH

THE HEALER

A DOCTOR'S KIT,
TO HEAL THE WOUNDS
OF TEDDY BEAR AND THUMPER,
RESTS FOR THE NIGHT
IN A YELLOW CHAIR,
THAT ONCE WAS RED,
AND MINE

MY DAUGHTER IS THE HEALER

SHE HOLDS MY LIFE,
MY FUTURE,
IN GENTLE DOCTOR'S HANDS
AND HEALS MY BROKEN DAYS

(FOR LEILA)

HAMSTERS

LEILA'S HAMSTER,SHAWN,
AND I
RUN ON OUR SEPARATE WHEELS
RACE IN OUR PRIVATE NIGHTS
AND ARE NOT SEEN

(MAR/25/1985)
REH

A FALL TO SACRED GROUND

A TWIG TIP'S
LIQIUD DROP
HANGS HEAVY
IN SOFT
NEW MORNING LIGHT,
INVERTING SUN AND FOREST

A TOUCH OF AIR

A FALL TO SACRED GROUND

(NOV/19/1980)
REH

GRAY ROCKS AND OLD LEAVES

ON THE GROUND BELOW
LITTLE GRAY ROCKS AND OLD LEAVES
WERE ONCE THE SOUL OF JESUS

NOW, HE'S SOMEWHERE, OUT THERE
ABOVE THE CLOUDS

AND I WAS JUST STANDING
BETWEEN THOSE LONG TREE SHADOWS,
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING,
TURNING OVER THE SUN AND COLD WIND
TO SEE WHAT'S UNDERNEATH

(FEB/26/1975)
REH

SHARE THE FORMING

FROM THE SUN SHELTER
OF YOUR WHEELBARROW HOUSE
YOU WATCH MY KNIFE
INTENTLY

SIT AMONG STEEL
LEATHER
WOOD

TASTE BITTER WALNUT
ON YOUR TONGUE

YOU
WITH ME
SHARE THE FORMING

YOU ARE FOREVER

YOU ARE FOREVER
PART OF ALL
YOU TOUCH

(FOR MY NEW SCULPTURE
NOV/2/1985)
REH

AN ENDING

MY FRIEND
I THINK
THAT YOU WERE PAUL
AND I WAS GEORGE
JOHN SAID IT BEST
THE DREAM IS OVER

(JAN/18/1985
FOR DOUG)
REH

TALISMAN

WHAT MATTERS
ARE AGES GROWN
INTO THE IVORY OF BONE
CARVED
LIFE
TALISMAN
A TREE
WITH ROOTS OF HIGH SCHOOL DREAMS
THE LINE OF LAND
THE CROSS OF JESUS
MAKES A PROMISE
EASTER MORNING COLD
AGAINST MY HEART
OF GROWTH OF THORNS
THAT MUST BE CUT
AND CUT AGAIN
LIFE THAT WILL NOT DIE
IS HEAVEN THERE
FOR THORNS
BURNED TO ASH
IN GARDEN RINGS
AND RAKED INTO THE LINE OF LAND
THORNS GROW
INTO THE HEARTS
OF NEW CORN STALKS
INTO MY HEART
IS HEAVEN THERE?
(APR/3/1983, REH)

DREAMS

MY DREAMS HAVE BEEN
DREAMS
DROPPED AND LOST
ALONG A PATH
OF LEAST RESISTANCE

I SOMETIMES DREAM
I'LL TURN ABOUT
AND START MY SEARCH AGAIN
BUT, DREAMS
ARE ONLY DREAMS
ARE ONLY DREAMS

(MAR/1/1981)

A DIALOGUE

DADDY, IS IT ALRIGHT
IF I SIT UP IN YOUR LAP
AND WRITE BLOOD PRESSURE THINGS
IN MY BOOK?

WHAT IS THAT YOU'RE WRITING
WITH THAT BLACK PEN, DADDY?

POEMS FOR GRANDFATHERS
WHO LIVED THEIR TIMES
AND LEFT THEIR MARKS
ON THE LAND
LIBERTY LIFE
PACIFIC MILLS
RED CEDAR LOGS
AND YOU

THEIR BONES NOW REST
WITH ALL GRANDFATHER'S BONES
EMPTY HOUSES
WHERE GRANDFATHERS
ONCE LIVED

YESTERDAYS ARE ALL USED UP
TOMORROW IS IN YOUR EYES

(JAN/9/1981
REH)

DELLA FLOATING

DELLA FLOATING
BLUE AND BLUE
ON A COTTON FLOWER SEA

A QUILT
SEWN WITH PALE GREEN THREAD
WINDING
PINK FLOWERS
BITS OF FOREST GREEN AND YELLOW
THROUGH DENIM BLUE
PATCHES INTO PATCHES

AND WHERE DO QUILT DREAMS
TAKE SUCH TINY DREAMERS?

(For Della)

CLEARING

ARCING
SWING SERRATED STEEL
THROUGH TALL GRASS
IT WRAPS AROUND THE EDGE
MORNING GRASS
WET WITH LAST NIGHT'S TEARS
YOU MUST SHAKE IT FROM THE EDGE
BEFORE EACH NEW SWING
CUTTING CLEAR THE HIDDEN PLACES
THE SUN WILL DRIVE THE COPPERHEADS AWAY

A CHRISTMAS POEM

BORN BEFORE LIFE
BREATHED INTO CLAY
WHEN LIGHT AND AIR
WERE NEW

BORN IN THE LIGHT
OF A GREAT NEW STAR
NIGHT WIND BLOWING COLD
OVER THE AGES OF TIME
 AND ALL THE PROPHET'S WORDS

OUR FRIEND
WENT ABOUT IN RAGS
STAINED BY SWEAT
 AND THE DUST OF MILES WALKED
FEET SOMETIMES BARED
TO THE SHARP OF STONES

ALONE
AMONG THE BEST OF FRIENDS

AND IN HIM WAS THE CONSTANT PEACE
OF WATER
WAVE ON WAVE
RESISTING NOTHING
CLEANSING ALL IT TOUCHES
ROCKING BOATS
WHERE TIRED FISHERMEN
MEND NETS
AND COUNT THEIR CATCH
DRIFTING
TOWARD THE DISTANT LAMPS OF HOME
TOWARD LIFE BEYOND ALL LIFE
AND UNDERSTANDING

LIFE

THOUGH ALL THE SUNS GO DARK
AND ALL THE OCEANS FREEZE                 
  
(FOR GLEN LOWE, DEC/17/1983,  REH)

YOUR PRESENCE BURNS THE NIGHT

MY DAUGHTER ASKS
IF YOU ARE IN THE HANDLE BURNING FLAME
GOD
YOUR PRESENCE BURNS THE NIGHT
IN OAK AND PINE
SPEAK
FROM THE FIRE PIT'S
BLACKENED STONEHENGE WALLS
SPEAK TO US
IN THE SILENT VOICE
OF MOON CAST TREE SHADOWS
YOUR VOICE
DIVIDES THE SMOKE

(For Leila)

BURDEN

LIFE SOMETIMES
CONFINES ITSELF
TO LITTLE ROOMS OF SPACE
IT LEAVES ITS TRACKS
WHERE BUSY ANTS TRAVERSE
WITH DEAD GRASSHOPPER BURDEN

(SEPT/12/1981)
REH

DAWN BUBBLES

DAWN BUBBLES
FOLLOW YOU
TRAILING COLOR WHEELS OF AIR
THAT FLOAT AWAY
ACROSS THE FIELD
AND RISE
LIGHT, FRAGILE DREAMS
ABOVE GREEN JULY TREE TOPS
WE CHASE
BUT, CANNOT CATCH THEM

(For Leila)

THE SINGING BRAKEMAN'S SONG

FROM THE OPENED BOX
OF CLOSET TIME
A YELLOW STAR
AND LAST YEAR'S WINTER COATS
THE SINGING BRAKEMAN'S SONG
THAT LONESOME FLOWS
FROM COTTON FIELDS
IN MERIDIAN MISSISSIPPI
YODELS BLUE
LIKE GONE DEPRESSION DAYS
IT IS A SONG
THAT HAS NO POCKET MONEY
AND DOESN'T CARE
IT SLIDES ON THE STRINGS
OF A BOTTLENECK GUITAR
BECOMES JOHN GROGAN'S SONS
MY FATHER'S SONG
A SONG YOUR FATHER TOOK
INTO THE COOL SILENCE OF THE MINES
TONIGHT
JIMMY ROGERS SMILES
FROM THE ETERNITY OF PAPER CLOUDS
AND SINGS US HOME AGAIN

(FOR BOBBY
AND HIS TREASURED SCRATCHED RECORD
DEC/12/1981-REH)

SCENES BEYOND THE PLAYGROUND

I TURN MY THOUGHTS DOWN LONG, DARK HALLWAYS
TO DOORS AND WINDOWS FURTHER ON
NOSES ONCE WERE PRESSED AGAINST GLASS PANES
WHERE CHILDREN LOOKED OUT ON COLD MORNINGS
AT SCENES BEYOND THE PLAYGROUND

AND DID THEY FIND THEIR PLACES
AND THEIR DREAMS?

THE DOORS ALL HOLD THEIR SECRETS,
SECRETS IN CRACKED BROWN VARNISH
AND WORN HINGES

THE WALLS AND FLOORS HOLD SECRETS TOO

(Remembering Mt. Zion
OCT/1975)

BROWN BEAR SLEEPING

ROCKING IN
MY BROTHER'S GENTLE PEACE,
BROWN BEAR,
SLEEPING ME,
DREAMS INTO
PUPPY DOG MORNINGS
THAT COME AGAIN
FOREVER

(For Jim and DELLA)

A BALANCE

I TOUCH
YOUR SACRED, DARK HICKORY
THROUGH LAYERS OF PAINTED YEARS
                                                                             
YOUR CROOK
HAS KNOWN THE POLISH OF HANDS
AND THE CAREFUL, WEIGHTED STEPS
THAT OLD MEN TAKE
BENEATH YOUR BLACK ENAMEL CLOAK
TIME SCARS REVEAL
THE IVORY OF A FORMER TIME
                                                                      
 I DO NOT KNOW                                                                           
THE TURN OF DAYS
OR TRADE OF GOODS
THAT BROUGHT YOU TO
MY PAPA SMITH

YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN
A BALANCE
TO SOME SMITH AND WESSON BARGAIN

I KNOW YOU WERE
HIS EVER PRESENT STAFF
SECURITY
ON ACORN SCATTERED WALKS
PAST THE LITTLE FENCED DOG'S BARK
OUR PILGRIMAGE
TOWARD BOTTLE SMASHING
GARBAGE DUMP ADVENTURE

TONIGHT
I TOUCH MY LEGACY
THROUGH LAYERS OF MY YOUTH AND PAST
AS SOME NEW GATE WATCHMAN
KEEPS A QUIET VIGIL
(DEC/11/1981)-REH

APRIL'S CORN

APRIL'S CORN
IS RAIN RELEASED
AND, LIKE US ALL,
IS SEARCHING FOR THE LIGHT

APRIL/23/1981
REH

APPLE TEA WALK

APPLE TEA
AND THIS WHITE PACKARD CUP
ARE WARM
AS I
WRAPPED IN A SPIRIT BLANKET
OF GRAY DECEMBER MIST
FEEL MY GRAVEL PATH
THROUGH TATTERED SUMMER MOCCASINS
DRY SAGE GRASS
AND GOLDENROD
SURROUNDING
REACHING CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS
LIKE CHILDREN'S REINDEER DREAMS
INTO A DAMP OBSCURITY
I TURN
AND FIND MY HOUSE
HAS DISAPPEARED

ANSWERS

CHARLIE HOOPER SAYS ITS "COMMUNISM"
I CAN'T REALLY SAY
TWO PREACHERS, IN WHITE COATS
AND BOW TIES
ON THIS BILLBOARD SIGN,
SAY JESUS IS THE ANSWER
AND I HOPE THEY'RE RIGHT,
STILL
ANSWERS, FOR ME,
LIE SOMEWHERE BEYOND BILLBOARD SMILES,
WHITE BUBBLE TENTS,
AND, YES,
EVEN THE "AMAZING FACTS" RADIO PROGRAM

ALWAYS

DEEP ROOTS HAVE ALWAYS
HELD THE EARTH TOGETHER

THE RAIN HAS ALWAYS
FILLED THE STREAMS
AND SETTLED DOWN THE DUST

AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HERE

THE STARS ARE NOT
SO VERY FAR AWAY

THIS AFTERNOON

THIS AFTERNOON
I HELP YOU DOWN INTO THE WALDEN PADDLER,
THEN SLIP INTO MY HYPERFORM
AWKWARDLY AT FIRST
YOU  PADDLE HERE THEN THERE
THEN START TO FIND THE TRACK
THE CANEY FORK SLIDES UNDER US,
SLIDES GREEN PAST LIMESTONE FORMS,
ONCE OCEAN FLOOR,
AND SNAKES AND GREAT BLUE HERONS
WAVES FROM PASSING BASS BOATS
GENTLY LIFT AND ROLL
WE STUDY EVERY WEATHERED ROCK AND ROOT,
I WITH MY BINOCULARS
YOU WITH THE POLAROID
THAT SOMETIMES DOESN'T FLASH
YOU WANT THEM ALL
TO PUT INTO YOUR GARDENS
THE SHORE SLIDES BY
TOO QUICKLY,
LIKE THE YEARS
SINCE LAST WE DID THIS LOVELY DANCE
WE PADDLED ONE BOAT THEN, TOGETHER

(FOR PEGGY-AUG/98)