Great Barrierby Barbara Kingsolver The cathedral is burning. Absent flame or smoke,stained glass explodes in silence, fractal scalesof angel damsel rainbow parrot. Charred beamsof blackened coral lie in heaps on the sacred floor,white stones fallen from high places, spires collapsedcrushing sainted turtle and gargoyle octopus. Something there is in my kind that cannot lovea reef,Continue reading “Great Barrier by Barbara Kingsolver”
Tag Archives: Travel
An Old City, Czech Republic by Laurel Benjamin
An Old CityCzech Republicby Laurel Benjamin I’m standing on a street corner in an old city after darkwhere no one appears after midnight—no couples arm in arm coming from a drinking spot,no bicyclists, no streetcars. A black dog enters the street, dragging his ownerwho struggles to hold strands of other dogs,and with one hand steersContinue reading “An Old City, Czech Republic by Laurel Benjamin”
Koi Pond, Oakland Museum by Susan Kolodny
Koi Pond, Oakland Museumby Susan Kolodny Our shadows bring them from the shadows:a yolk-yellow one with a navy patternlike a Japanese woodblock print of fish scales.A fat 18-karat one splashed with gaudy purpleand a patch of gray. One with a gold head,a body skim-milk-white, trailing ventral finslike half-folded fans of lace.A poppy-red, faintly disheveled one,andContinue reading “Koi Pond, Oakland Museum by Susan Kolodny”
Doggie Diner, Geary and Arguello, 1969 by Vince Gotera
Doggie Diner, Geary and Arguello, 1969 by Vince Gotera Out of San Francisco night, the cool fog’s gray fingers caressing hills and houses, emerged, in chef’s hat and bowtie, the Dog, ten-foot-tall dachshund’s head in fiberglass. Tina, my first real high school girlfriend, and I entered through the shiny glass doors, holding hands, both in hippieContinue reading “Doggie Diner, Geary and Arguello, 1969 by Vince Gotera”
San Francisco by Richard Brautigan
San Franciscoby Richard Brautigan This poem was found written on a paper bag by Richard Brautigan in a laundromat in San Francisco. The author is unknown. By accident, you putYour money in myMachine (#4)By accident, I putMy money in anotherMachine (#6)On purpose, I putYour clothes in theEmpty machine fullOf water and noClothes It was lonely.Continue reading “San Francisco by Richard Brautigan”
Kabul by Shakila Azizzada
Kabulby Shakila Azizzada Translated by Zuzanna Olszewska with Mimi Khalvati If my heart beatsfor Kabul,it’s for the slopes of Bala Hissar,holding my deadin its foothills. Though not one, not oneof those wretched heartsever beat for me. If my heart grievesfor Kabul,it’s for Leyla’s sighs of“Oh, dear God!”and my grandmother’s heartset pounding. It’s for Golnar’s eyesscanningContinue reading “Kabul by Shakila Azizzada”
Dropping Acid in the Hindu Kush, 1967 by Rafaella Del Bourgo
Dropping Acid in the Hindu Kush, 1967by Rafaella Del Bourgo Early afternoon.We eat milky Afghan caramels,ignore the view below, the town, its river, the valley,lie, instead, on our backs. Cobalt mountains,the enormity overhead,cloud parades:columns of arabi sheep, camels with bright ornaments,fanged and tawny cats.A lone barbary falcon perched on a nearby outcropping,its cry sharp andContinue reading “Dropping Acid in the Hindu Kush, 1967 by Rafaella Del Bourgo”
Beijing Ascending by Graham Wood
Beijing Ascending by Graham Wood For Rosemary and Laura We spent all day getting to the top of things — climbing stairs, hauling on balustrades lifting our aching legs up one incline and then another: the pagoda the drum tower the bell tower the emperor’s favourite resting place on top of the wooded mountain …Continue reading “Beijing Ascending by Graham Wood”
Yellow Fruit Tree Waterfall Park by Don Kingfisher Campbell
Yellow Fruit Tree Waterfall Park by Don Kingfisher Campbell Refreshing turbulent spray on passersby A piano of stepping stones ford wide river Leafy detritus lines asphalt paths Reflection of sky and trees in tranquil water Dark branches reach up from flowery ground Leaves spread out like fingers to catch sunlight Take a photo, paint aContinue reading “Yellow Fruit Tree Waterfall Park by Don Kingfisher Campbell”
Written on the Wall of West Forest Temple by Su Shi
Written on the Wall of West Forest Temple by Su Shi translated by Burton Weston From the side, a whole range; from the end, a single peak: Far, near, high, low, no two parts alike. Why can’t I tell the true shape of Lushan? Because I myself am in the mountain. PHOTO: Fog curls aroundContinue reading “Written on the Wall of West Forest Temple by Su Shi”
POETRY and PLACES 