Sailor Green
After: Green Sees Things in Waves by August Kleinzahler
The sea’s not blue, says Sailor Green, who knows his domain. I’ve seen oceans.
I’ve sailed the gray-green whale path. A green glaze on the leeward side of the
ship spread to the horizon. Rolling water, the backs of migrating turtles, shells
carved in viridian. A mighty lizard tail that flails and splashes. A fountain
shoots skyward, breaks and roars. One day, a jade frog glistens. Another,
emerald quetzal feathers gleam. Turbulence sings, songbirds chorus with two
voice boxes. Or waves whisper lime dreams. Billows rise, a forested mountain
falls. Verdant land and houses shake, buildings flatten, life chokes. Or the
waterworld goes still. A moss glass sheet mirrors chartreuse storm clouds.
Sailor Green stands watch, studies fern water and waits for a typhoon.
waiting
a coiled snake
too early spring
***
A Wren Story
Jenny wren slaps my face with feathers when I water the moon cactus.
Disturbed, the bird abandons three eggs, beige and yellow-flecked.
The nesting pair builds a new nest in a hanging pot of fuchsia.
spring mud
splashes on legs and chest
of mother and horse
***
Riddle-Me-Ree: A Guessing Game
Triptych synecdoche
Part expresses the whole
Riddle-me-nonsense
Each name holds a clue
Solve the riddle
Guess the synecdoche
Shadow-Tail1
No pillow or umbrella
Over the head
Whale-Path2
Sails without a ship
Dismounts on sand
Golden Treasure3
Hides in a locked box,
No key, no lid
Nancy Etticoat4
In a white petticoat
Eats no bread-and-butter
Hummer and Flutterby5
Lifts into the air
Without gasoline
Gray-Beard6
Age teaches
Him wisdom
Red-White-&-Blue7
I pledge
Allegiance to you
Little Man in a Tree8
A stick in the hand
A stone in the throat
Lucky Number9
& Barrel Rider
Guess my name
Riddle-me-res
Riddle-see dee red bee
Riddle-tee rae gee wee
A part names the whole
In a synecdoche puzzle
Riddle-me-ree the answer
---------------------
1squirrel
2ocean
3egg
4candle
5hummingbird & butterfly
6old man
7American flag
8cherry
9Bilbo Baggins
http://www.verse-virtual.org/2020/november/bruck-ingrid-2020-november.html
Date of Publication: November 1, 2020