Backyard Arcana
The Hermit is not the only way in—
today, I followed the impulse
to go out, cross thresholds & liminal space;
shape a thing with my hands.
What I found were the narratives
sewn in the fabric of living things,
mythologies in the intricacies
of every single inhabitant
of a back yard—pattern recognition
even while digits dug the earth:
The way the river birch endeavored
to slough its own skin; you can’t
grow or be born, again, before
stripped clean; & you can’t
strip him of what no longer serves
without blackening his trunk;
the paving stone, so artificial
& rough, lifted–lifting–to the sky
by yet unseen roots searching
unseeable light–knowing–trusting,
that tomorrow, or something, will give
space to breathe;
or the rock—all forty pounds of that rock—
sleeping beneath roots, old fabric, clay,
tucked deep inside the heart
of the spot meant to shelter
new buds, once planted, like a spite,
like an anger, a poverty consciousness
you forgot, or never knew, still existed inside.
Today, I followed the impulse to go out
but found myself, instead, going in.
The Hermit may hold wisdom like a lantern,
but only wisdom, only light, til his feet find return
to the road.
Excellent poem, Joseph! One revelation of staying home has been our focus on what surrounds us every day. To really see it. I like that you relate this to the tarot. “Once planted, like a spite,/like an anger, a poverty consciousness” – love these lines, as I do so many in this poem. One to read again and again.
Oof. I enjoyed this, especially “you can’t/grow or be born, again, before/stripped clean…”
Beautiful! One favorite thought: “narratives sewn in the fabric of living things” Yes! And it made me smile to connect this creative endeavor to your FB post I saw earlier. 🙂
Thank you Sylvia, Shaun, and Alvera :). Glad you connected 💙
Wonderfully lyrical, in-the-moment poem. Love all the details of rock and earth. Love that you found yourself “going in” – the heart of this poem! Just lovely!
River birch and rock mixed with pattern recognition. My kinda juxtapostional work. Wonderful!
Thank you, Kathleen!
Bernie, caught a whiff of your collecting in this one :p. Thought you’d appreciate.
Well this poem is a keeper. There are so many things I like about it. I like your specific examples and the tarot reference. (I’m learning tarot.) Most of all like the introspection of this piece.
Linda,
I’m a big fan of the Tarot! Glad you enjoyed!