Sonata

moonlight

the way

it casts beethoven's

long shadow

and here

the bare birch

there

dark arbor vitae

~ ralph murre

Work (?) In Progress

What I Used to Know

I understood
that dandelions
are beautiful
as dahlias and
the cheesemaker's daughter
delightful

I knew
the grace of grasshoppers
equals
the pomp of presidents
or peacocks and
pigeons stand iridescent in sun

I suspected
there is less
to people
than they
let on
and more

and I knew
my flesh was holy
as communion bread
or Wonder Bread
and Mogen David wine
after blessing

I heard pines
whisper
prayers
that
went
unanswered

I saw the early signs
the dancers on aching toes
yet I never doubted
perfection
the questions
in the eyes of does

~ Ralph Murre

note: "work in progress" refers to the poem, not the building!

La Noche

somewhere
in the Spanish night
La Abuela
her tale of great sorrow
and dancing

~ RM


Inspired by pieces for a viola ensemble, which I heard yesterday, written by Michael Kimber and performed by some gifted students of Lawrence University playing at Bjorklunden . . .

Fractured

“frig da freakin’ frackers”

I heard said

as townfolk gathered

at their poisoned well

“we’ll make some bucks

on natchral gas

but owe it

to dem crackers

what’s got

drinkin’ water to sell”

~ ol’ uncle ralph

Another Year

Running Things

Another year
Another chance to get it right
To do the things I shoulda done
Tear down that fence I built
Quit the party
Let running things run

Another wave rolls up the beach
Tumbles stones
Polishes what survives
Shorebirds -- hungry -- rush
Consume the dazzled on the sands
End the safe, crustacean lives

Another day
Another chance to see the light
To see the clouded, rising sun
Copper flame in pewter bowl
Embrace the certain, coming toll
Or be a running thing, and run

~ Ralph Murre

An old one, from my first book, Crude Red Boat (Cross + Roads Press)