When lightning struck a tree,
a poem emerged in an image:
Baryshnikov dancing in a film—
in a room with only a chair.
Over it—on it—seemingly
through—it he danced
the kind of poetry in motion
that I understand from the inside
out when I write.
When lightning struck a tree,
the boundaries of where I end
& where I begin merged in silence.
I flourished in my creative subconsciousness.
Perhaps I will use your secret
for being happy
or maybe I will write you
gliding across the sky
like lightning
the way Baryshnikov danced.
When I first read this I thought it said when lightning struck a a tree, a poet emerged. I think that is not altogether wrong. Nice one!
I can see how that would happen. Thanks, Arwen for reading it your way…
So good…the blending of images after the alchemy of lightning…
Baryshnikov & the “you” “I will write”: magic realism
Jim, thanks for catching the blending of images. The lightning strike was massive, going down an oak, running at least thirty feet of woven wire, and then coming up a tall poplar tree and blowing the top of it out. Needless to say, it got my attention as did Baryshnikov in the film: White Knights.