tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72632542464802899412024-03-14T06:13:11.233-04:00KD BelmonteAn exploration of poetry: New ways of saying old things. Old ways of saying new things.
My words.KD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-44232299391192206832012-06-21T17:39:00.003-04:002012-06-21T17:40:31.861-04:00Facesjust before sleep <br />
drags me down to dreams, <br />
the faces form from nothing <br />
of everyone <br />
I never knewKD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-8963245403941512142012-05-27T10:12:00.000-04:002012-05-27T16:21:54.260-04:00The Great Coffee Throw Down<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUkh01BxGlJjQmEjFrNtgVCfdXPL-0BmQvSRnJcsViNlZLvnhV67kRLow4MDRQlLsSnlzhyphenhyphenRHOjiivibW-jAjONmQ-3osNbI0pO1dwX9JJtew3TDkIkn-hY2zuTBq9ie_GG1nXOwXV0Y5/s1600/DSC07273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUkh01BxGlJjQmEjFrNtgVCfdXPL-0BmQvSRnJcsViNlZLvnhV67kRLow4MDRQlLsSnlzhyphenhyphenRHOjiivibW-jAjONmQ-3osNbI0pO1dwX9JJtew3TDkIkn-hY2zuTBq9ie_GG1nXOwXV0Y5/s320/DSC07273.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It
is one of my great privileges as a poet to have opportunities to share the love
of poetry and the joy of spontaneous bursts of writing with like-minded
friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last weekend I issued a
challenge – “throw down” – to a group of fearless and fun-loving artists. The
topic was coffee (or tea) and the form was personal choice. With their permission,
I share the results below:<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Marilyn Leider<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
Caffeine shot<br />
Uncalms us-speeds the clock-spins faster-<br />
But might the mug,<br />
</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The pouring and the rising of steam,</span></span><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="display: none; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hide: special;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Unchug our chugging</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And what once was rushing forth</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Might be a libation for the sake of the soul.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Then let come the calming</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And the savoring.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Morning made morning,</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Makes mourning of</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6; tab-stops: 363.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Souls arushing elsewhere<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Speeding</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Spun</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Shot out.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now slow</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For the goodness</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Of the soul.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>Prerna Katare Tonk</strong></span><br />
<h6 style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The innocent cream<br />
rifling up the caffeine <br />
almost a cacophonous assault<br />
<span class="textexposedshow2">on the olfactory nerves</span></span></h6>
<h6 style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span class="textexposedshow2"></span></span><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">cajoling the paused rush</span></span></h6>
<h6 style="background: white;">
<span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in a tumultuous avalanche </span></span></h6>
<h6 style="background: white;">
<span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of morning sanity </span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; display: none; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hide: all;"><span class="textexposedshow2">d rush</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow2">in a tumultuous avalanche</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow2">of morning sanity</span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></h6>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mary Scott Sayre</span></b></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Waiting </span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">By her</span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">cold cup of coffee</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">With its</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Melted whip cream top</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I sensed</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Her long anxious wait</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">for me</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To approach, and begin</span></span><span class="textexposedshow2"><span lang="EN" style="display: none; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hide: special;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="textexposedshow2"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Holly Ordway</span></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On countless
childhood mornings (folded now<br />
Into a single moment): slowly drifting <br />
Out of sleep into a quiet waking, <br />
The morning light not quite yet edging round<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The curtain, I
can hear the day begin<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In kitchen
sounds: the burbling coffee pot,<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The clunk and
swish of coffee poured, the clink<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of spoon in mug.
Yes, soon the day begins,<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But not just yet.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today I rise (the
light<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Has just awakened
too) and set the pot<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To brew. I spoon
the sugar in the cup,<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And pour, and
stir, and add my half and half<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And watch the
color swirl and change. I sit<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And curl my hands
around the cup, and feel<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The heat through
flesh and bone. Yes, soon<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The day begins,
but not just yet.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>Mary Mueller<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<span class="messagebody2"><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Morning Mercies</span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<br />
<span class="messagebody2">Making me human,</span><br />
<span class="messagebody2">Waking me up, the Spirit</span><br />
<span class="messagebody2">Must flow in each cup.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>Kelly Belmonte<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<strong>
</strong><br />
<span class="messagebody2"><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">coffee percolates</span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<span class="messagebody2">while sun dances</span><br />
<span class="messagebody2">on last night's party</span><br />
<span class="messagebody2">glasses drying</span><br />
<span class="messagebody2">in the sink</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>Rebekah Choat<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<strong>
</strong><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Magic Potion<br />
<br />
As I sit here staring into the dark depths<br />
Of the cup that I cradle between my cold hands,<br />
The swirling together of steam and my breath<br />
spins a thread that trails off towards fairy-tale lands.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My fancy goes floating away on
the mist<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To somewhere off the map and
somewhen outside time;<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I stand among trees that the
first snow has kissed,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In silence unboken except for
the chime<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of a faraway bell
I can only just hear<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As it tolls out –
what is it? – a welcome, a warning?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The feeling it
stirs is more worship than fear;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Perhaps it is
only a herald of morning.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But I cannot stay
– my elixer is gone<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And back in the
“real” world, the day’s getting on.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<br /></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kevin Belmonte<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lines about
Coffee<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(inspired by
Ogden Nash)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">O flavorful bean
– grace in a cup,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do your good work
– please pick me up.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bliss in the air
– fond smell of morning,<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘til I’ve had a
cup – all others take warning!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Still there’s a
kinder side, I trow,<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And of that, I’ll
sing – <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The smile that
she shows<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">for the first cup
I bring… <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>Kelly Belmonte<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<strong>
</strong><span class="messagebody2"><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<span class="messagebody2"><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">cafe mit schlag and</span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<span class="messagebody2">conversation, waiting on</span><br />
<span class="messagebody2">time in Traiskirchen</span><br />
<br />
<span class="messagebody2">(senryu, memory of summer in Austria, 1988)</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt -0.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-outline-level: 6; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"><strong> <span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jean Matson</span></strong></span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt -0.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-outline-level: 6; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt -0.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-outline-level: 6; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday Morning<br />
<br />
Yesterday's coffee,<br />
Starbucks no matter,<br />
Promises much<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But is foul to <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The palate;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So get up<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And get at it<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And brew the
elixir<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">That keeps its
promises.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="display: none; mso-hide: all;"> But is foul to <br />
the palate;<br />
<br />
So get up <br />
And get at it<br />
And brew the elixir<br />
That keeps its promises.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 1.5pt; mso-outline-level: 6;">
<span lang="EN" style="display: none; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-hide: all;">The morning light not quite yet
edging round<br />
The curtain, I can hear the day begin<br />
In kitchen sounds: the burbling coffee pot,<br />
The clunk and swish of coffee poured, the clink <br />
Of spoon in mug. Yes, soon the day begins,<br />
But not just yet. <br />
<br />
Today I rise (the light<br />
Has just awakened too) and set the pot<br />
To brew. I spoon the sugar in the cup,<br />
And pour, and stir, and add my half and half<br />
And watch the color swirl and change. I sit<br />
And curl my hands around the cup, and feel<br />
The heat through flesh and bone. Yes, soon<br />
The day begins, but not just yet.<span class="textexposedshow2">The pouring and
the rising of steamThe pouring and the rising of steam,</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow2">Unchug our chugging</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow2">And what once was rushing forth</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow2">Might be a libation for the sake of the soul.</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow2">Then let come the calming</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow2">And the savoring.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="textexposedshow2">Morning made morning,</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow2">Makes mourning of</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow2">Souls arushing elsewhere</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow2">Speeding </span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow2">Spun</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow2">Shot out.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="textexposedshow2">Now slow</span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow2">For the goodness </span><br />
<span class="textexposedshow2">Of the soul.</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>KD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-9613543284016016472012-05-24T13:52:00.003-04:002012-05-24T13:53:10.216-04:00unapologeticrose, still refusing<br />
to apologize<br />
for thornsKD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-82438551213201271622012-05-04T08:29:00.001-04:002012-05-04T08:29:14.251-04:00after the stormafter the storm, sky<br />
the color of a bruise<br />
fadingKD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-28870682490036142182012-04-29T11:50:00.000-04:002012-04-29T11:50:08.936-04:00Workthe work <br />
always the work <br />
until it's done <br />
and lying there <br />
like a spring uncoiledKD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-61751889103501435532012-02-05T16:04:00.000-05:002012-02-05T16:04:09.995-05:00Blame it on the Musemy muse sleeps, floating <br />
on the backs of a thousand <br />
haiku gone byKD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-8964650328255907812011-10-28T20:12:00.000-04:002011-10-28T20:12:46.911-04:00night language<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">empty into night <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the sky pours language <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">we cannot hear <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the hum of silenced <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">tv; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the muffled scream of <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">yesterday's nightmare <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">five miles away <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">by the ocean <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">a cricket<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">between land and sky, <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">resonating within <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">a yawning echo <o:p></o:p></span>KD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-44315685877396333082011-10-28T20:03:00.002-04:002011-10-28T20:03:43.872-04:00baking breadmolasses memories <br />
pour slowly over the lip; <br />
doughy thoughts risingKD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-47288839653633893412011-09-19T12:30:00.000-04:002011-09-19T12:30:52.672-04:00I am<div class="discussion" sizcache="1" sizset="28"> <div class="description" sizcache="1" sizset="28"> <div class="tweet-content" sizcache="1" sizset="28"> <div class="tweet-row" sizcache="1" sizset="28"> <div class="tweet-corner" sizcache="1" sizset="28"> <div class="tweet-meta"><em><span class="icons">I wrote the series of gogyohka below over the course of the past few weeks as separate tweets originally posted on Twitter. In reviewing my Twitter stream, I saw an interesting (to me) thread and thought I'd capture as one blog post. </span></em></div><div class="tweet-meta"><em><span class="icons"></span></em> </div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">***</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons"> </span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">I am a wild horse</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">snout to the wind</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">beating sand;</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">and now I stop</span></div><div class="tweet-meta" sizcache="1" sizset="28"><span class="icons" sizcache="1" sizset="28">to nibble grass <a class=" twitter-hashtag pretty-link" href="http://gogyohka.ning.com/#!/search?q=%23gpoem" rel="nofollow" title="#gpoem"></a></span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons"> </span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">***</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons"> </span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">I am a warrior</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">fighting the darkness</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">with dark dark coffee</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">and chocolate</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">darker still</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons"> </span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">***</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons"> </span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">I am</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">this moss covered</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">weather beaten</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">unmoveable rock:</span></div><div class="tweet-meta" sizcache="1" sizset="29"><span class="icons" sizcache="1" sizset="29">please, stand beside me. <a class=" twitter-hashtag pretty-link" href="http://gogyohka.ning.com/#!/search?q=%23gogyohka" rel="nofollow" title="#gogyohka"></a></span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons"> </span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">***</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons"> </span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">I am a chalkboard</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">iconic</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">and envious</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">of my multi-media</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"><span class="icons">replacements</span></div><div class="tweet-meta"></div><div class="tweet-meta">***</div><div class="tweet-meta"></div><div class="tweet-meta">I am</div><div class="tweet-meta">looking in the mirror </div><div class="tweet-meta">wondering</div><div class="tweet-meta">who </div><div class="tweet-meta" sizcache="1" sizset="30">I am <a class=" twitter-hashtag pretty-link" href="http://gogyohka.ning.com/#!/search?q=%23gogyohka" rel="nofollow" title="#gogyohka"></a></div></div></div></div></div></div>KD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-92090517433981581492011-08-27T07:24:00.001-04:002011-08-27T07:24:39.203-04:00MiraclesHow do we know <br />
this dry river bed <br />
this poem <br />
this Saturday night bean supper <br />
is not a miracle?KD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-75056969043363600952011-06-25T07:55:00.000-04:002011-06-25T07:55:24.905-04:00JapanI see a boat <br />
on a house <br />
half a world away <br />
and hug my son <br />
tighter to my chest <br />
<br />
<em>(I wrote this back in March, after the tsunami disaster in Japan. Let's not forget our friends a half a world away.)</em>KD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-88529544024647804362011-05-16T15:08:00.000-04:002011-05-16T15:08:05.130-04:00BelongingYou belong here. <br />
Each brick a story. <br />
You lay them one on top the other. <br />
The neighbors nod knowingly. <br />
I watch with alien eyes.<br />
<br />
I belong<br />
to a commune of misfits: <br />
sitting in half circles <br />
we laugh nervously and scratch <br />
invisible itches on our foreheads <a class=" twitter-hashtag" href="http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23gogyohka" rel="nofollow" title="#gogyohka"></a>KD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-9515805706850387802011-05-12T08:10:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:23:44.259-04:00All nineAll nine muses<br />
in concert,<br />
the view<br />
from my<br />
back porchKD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-5948635906940629072011-02-22T20:46:00.001-05:002011-02-22T20:47:03.723-05:00ListenWhen you're not listening <br />
I speak slowly, <br />
softly, <br />
as if in a dream <br />
to myself.<br />
<br />
When you're not listening <br />
I talk about my obsession <br />
with organizing my closet <br />
before the shoes <br />
mutiny.<br />
<br />
When you're not listening <br />
I tell you about the lightning <br />
during the last snow storm <br />
how exciting it was, <br />
and how frightening.<br />
<br />
When you stop to listen <br />
turning to look at me <br />
and say, "What did you say?" <br />
I mumble incoherently, <br />
"Oh, nothing."KD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-73118010028999226582011-02-22T20:43:00.002-05:002011-02-22T20:43:17.935-05:00TalkingIf you knew how often <br />
I talk to you <br />
you would stop listening. <br />
But you don't. <br />
Never do.KD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-2939268172775504732011-02-22T20:38:00.000-05:002011-02-22T20:38:07.520-05:00Smallthe smallness <br />
between big people <br />
can be <br />
a very deep <br />
valleyKD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-90489712039924548022010-11-14T19:22:00.002-05:002010-11-14T19:22:50.361-05:00Glass<span class="entry-content">If my heart was glass </span><br />
<span class="entry-content">I'd fill it with water </span><br />
<span class="entry-content">so you could tap it </span><br />
<span class="entry-content">with a spoon </span><br />
<span class="entry-content">and make music</span>KD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-42966540203381352912010-10-06T22:18:00.002-04:002010-10-06T22:18:45.925-04:00Love waits<span class="entry-content">Love </span><br />
<span class="entry-content">waits </span><br />
<span class="entry-content">for that one step </span><br />
<span class="entry-content">forward </span><br />
<span class="entry-content">then comes running </span>KD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-13652188651154257072010-09-06T13:43:00.000-04:002010-09-06T13:43:06.266-04:00memorialThe children danced <br />
and we shared <br />
jars of chile sauce <br />
after her funeral: <br />
I feel Grandma laughingKD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-50810571041216516032010-09-06T13:25:00.001-04:002010-09-06T13:25:53.577-04:00sunflower<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">face to face</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">my son sees</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">each sunflower</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">has a different</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">face</span></div>KD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-58130088761900019032010-08-29T21:37:00.001-04:002010-08-29T21:37:33.642-04:00H2Odesert all around<br />
the only life<br />
water<br />
I carry<br />
in my selfKD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-21936976569303703562010-06-20T18:21:00.002-04:002010-06-20T18:21:58.946-04:00charcoalshe draws with charcoal <br />
smudged fists blending too sharp lines <br />
until bearableKD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-26542372944763100382010-06-15T22:39:00.002-04:002010-06-15T22:39:40.640-04:00man's best friendHands in jeans pockets<br />
feet nudging moss<br />
without thinking<br />
man removes cap<br />
by his springer's old graveKD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-11287631246243642852010-06-13T16:20:00.002-04:002010-06-13T16:20:59.831-04:00chattertide flows out over <br />
loose pebbles chattering <br />
with seagullsKD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7263254246480289941.post-34429381967885215322010-06-11T21:37:00.000-04:002010-06-11T21:37:40.884-04:00Red barn<div style="text-align: center;">red barn under red </div><div style="text-align: center;">sky melting smooth orange </div><div style="text-align: center;">summer afternoon</div>KD Belmontehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03585203220271988934noreply@blogger.com2