Another Epoch

There were trumpets; winged
called angelic prostrate before innocent suns.
They still went around earths, accepted praise
until patterns and logic reigned
again

-- before.

I felt today, breathed it,
how was I to know
now was a million miles away?

Chafing

I may have posted this before on V's site, but I honestly don't recall. Would appreciate feedback on which version (if any) work for you and why.

Modified version #1:

Chafing
under the mildest
of constraint,

unable to
reign myself to graciously
yield to the least
of your requests.

Your gentle voice
is steel-cut, no matter
what little you ask.



Modified version #2:

Far flung
and uncharted,
I am no longer tame.

Chafing
under the mildest
of constraint,

unable to
reign myself to graciously
yield to the least
of your requests.

Your gentle voice
is steel-cut, no matter
what little you ask.

original:

Chafing
under the mildest
of constraint,

unable to
reign myself to graciously
yield to the least
of your requests.

Far flung
and uncharted,
I am no longer tame;
your gentle voice
steel-cut, no matter
what little you ask.

Healing by Yeats

In wise love each divines the highest secret self
of the other, and, refusing to believe in the mere
daily self creates a mirror where the lover or be-
loved sees an image to copy in daily life-- Yeats

Feline Ferocity

Fierce focus finds its
purpose in the most delicate
of parcels.

With a tiger lily bite she
holds the small and helpless
below the line of fire
with a stare that would scare
any errant winds.

Wrapped and wound
she quickly adapts to
to dangers that lurk
beneath the smile
of the rosy horizon.

Dimashq al-Shām

Dimashq al-Shām

Ottoman empirical
you wore vermillion;

evidence of rain shadow

as you walked along
the same road as Paul;
shawl covered
discovered blind

you strode Galatian
under an evening sun