On the theme of Rivers
Right Off
After Miles
dream of an unholy summit/deviant representation of sunrise heartache/expectation/desire’s volume/aesthetic snobbery vanquished/
overheard nonsense obliterated
step into/ease into/the new/the ancient/the liberated fire-bringer joint/you
always pictured/angry/like a color/shaking its veined finger/at your open
eyes/your crushed heart/clarified
the awkwardness of subconscious revealed in a public place/during
business hours/did not mean to be so obvious about it/forgive me/love
me anyway/please/we can do this/prove that there are many forms of
love
majesty of a thoroughbred/psychedelic collaboration opportunity
missed/brass bliss/origin of all this/tight(s) glimmer/wisdom seeps in
through cotton headband
born to suffer/mouth open/hands outstretched/to grasp rather than
receive/gluttony a symptom of lack of belief in self/a need for constant reassurance/when do we sit?/when do we rest?/when do we let go?/when
can we be?
movement/always/a possibility/but you must give yourself permission
perhaps the pallbearers jam in heaven/soaring celestial distortion/bended
notes that give birth to new planets/ always there, though unseen/I think
I see one in your eye
unexpected exclamation/it’s the quiet ones, always the quiet ones/this complacency/not a new arrival/cry for those who can’t/stand tall for the
lame/ be brave to honor those paralyzed with fear/show them how
wail together/call the spirits to rise/and take human form again/if only
for a moment/call them home/for one more embrace
the star on a wet cheek expands into a river/a wisp of sage/a shooting
star/in the living room/so why not give me a smile?
Author Biography
Christopher Luna is the Poet Laureate of Clark County, WA and co-founder, with Toni Partington, of Printed Matter Vancouver. His books include GHOST TOWN, USA and The Flame Is Ours: The Letters of Stan Brakhage and Michael McClure 1961-1978, available on Big Bridge.org. Recent publications include It’s Animal But Merciful, gape-seed, Take Out, Chiron Review, and Soundings Review.