Tag Archive: poetry


Haiku For The Exodus Of Imaginary Birds

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Lightning-gales on wing
alight about eventide
too tired yet to sing

© Chagall, 2013

Ball Jars

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Through with the band,
off the island,

singled
the odd girl
out.

No worries,
it’s autumn,
the time is right

to pickle
sweet
melancholia.

© Chagall, 2013

A Dollop

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At one time
everywhere,
now nowhere.

They’re somewhere, wherever
your heart has left you.

Remember forever
to rein it in,
the day needn’t
escape you.

© Chagall, 2013

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A canopy of shade
just off the shore

under the cool
of large palms

to adorn the breastplate
where once we wore armor

copper and pewter
ewers pour

honey
dripped
embroidery

burnt-sugar
stencils

interwoven
about the neck

a lacy tat
décolleté

© Chagall, 2013

Still Some Summer

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The lime-pink houses
along the beach
stand in wait
for the dreamscape,

the laughter of days before storms
took the island
by gale, and nowhere
was alee.

Kites ripped and ditched
on rock, strung out
on waves so close
to shore.

Lonely gulls
bear the cry
of their own.

Though they glide
graceful, silent arcs,
atop salted winds
in updraft.

I miss the barefoot sound
of running on water
when the weary
were rested,

fresh
in steadfast color,

not faded,
heathered,
or torn,

fit to
taut bodies

loathe
to relinquish
the day.

© Chagall, 2013

Blue Gray

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Long pulls and strokes
of her hard brush,

smoothed the way
for curls
and throaty incantations.

Her aromas cleave
me at center,

I am tinged at my fringes
by her scents.

These remain
the strongest trigger,
the fastest way back
to a time. So it was
a chance to be sexy,
poetic and smart.

All good things
rolled into one.

A black
tie-dye
event.

A time
for dahlias, pepper silks,
and arced backs,

for running lights
and rubbing curves
the wrong way.

© Chagall, 2013

In Arrears

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The avalanche rolls uphill,
creates a mount.

The waves unfurl to show
a flat and placid face.

Storm clouds disperse
to unveil the sun’s hold-sway.

Our each lie’s a domino
in the topple of truth.

© Chagall, 2013

Tao

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Observe the signs
to proceed with caution

it’s very easy
to break here

get broken,
up or down

brake,
go slow

always be
hyper-vigilant

anticipate
the fork in the tongue

the dip
in the mind

bumps in the crowd
that can send you flying

they’re slippery most
when cornered

know the rights
of Way

© Chagall, 2013

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It’s just beyond here
a stark vision of the form
the haiku must take

© Chagall, 2013

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Cold numb
rubbing
thumbs running
along the nub
tumble longingly
nimble tongues
rumble
in hollow alleys
mouths
tones emanate
our little voices
small moaners
mambo
the tips
of the tops
of marionettes
my index finger
to their crown
to center the pirouette
graceful curtseys
on lower lips
unveil themselves
biting seems right
nipping really
nibbling the ripe
warm, pliant
extending
things
dangling
from
our
bodies.

© Chagall, 2013