Little Poems Revisited
I have revisited the Little Poems collection and recast some in a more traditional form. Why? Well apart from structural issues I wanted to compare how changes in pace, pause placement and wording affected the feel of some of these earlier poems. Some seem a little better, some I haven't altered at all and some I do not think have improved with tampering (I still prefer the original versions). See what you think.
azaleas
vermillion blooms –
how seductive
every night
the stars
wait for me
helping me
to smell the flowers -
my little girl
in the gloom
rain on the mountain -
dusk comes early
her shadow still
staring towards the stars -
little resin fairy
swirling in
the autumn wind -
leaves, finches
stopping to clap
as I jump after him -
a fly
the rain gone
whispering no more
fallen leaves
swaying clover
thick upon the grass
springtime bees
on his wrist -
a lucky rubber band
or school is off
moment of freedom -
fluttering in my hand
a moth
in a tree
unconcerned with my worries
a blackbird sings
the leaves
show a lighter side -
autumn winds
at night
dancing upon the lake -
neon lights
at night -
waves hissing
on the shore
yearning for warmth -
red shoot imbeds its tip
in the blue sky
breathless -
summer cloud stops to rest
against a Kauri
never really there
families at an inquest -
shadows in the fog
tui’s call -
in a black and green sheen
enlightenment
hazy view
mountains on the horizon –
golden afternoons
spring
above the lake –
rosewater sky
at the ball
swaying in satin –
rhododendrons
rainbow fish
amongst the weeds -
dart and stop
frog
under a tree stump
hiding
skipping stones
across the lake –
almost
warm skin
facing the sun -
golden eyelids
in a hurry
the first blowfly
of spring
moon -
following me
home again
a line of clouds
behind Mt Tauhara -
afraid to pass
sheep
eyeing me suspiciously -
lambs bleat
just me
running down the road -
and a dry leaf
too early for spring -
no need to blush so
young cherry tree
sudden dragonfly -
leaping kitten
settles
the cricket
under the floorboards
tells me to shut up
for a moment
the Tui’s call
seems different
asking only
my company -
fantail
lying down
the clouds caught out-
autumn morning
in the dry grass
chasing butterflies -
kittens
last night
Saturn’s rings
tonight – nothing!
barking dog
chased from another home -
the meter man
a pebble falls
friendless in the puddle –
disappears
hidden shrine -
only glimpsed
from the path
worn pebble -
smooth waves
caress
in the distance
a zephyrs kiss
on the chimes
buttercups
searching the heavens -
eternal vigil
dragonfly above
the rock
green water below
planted in a row
struggling with the concept -
trees
driving
between the trees -
the sun
the sun
the sun
by the library
the autumn leaves
are well red
sparrows -
cutting each other off
towards distant clouds
sunset -
on the lake
ducks preen
ducks stand
to flap their wings -
drifting on the tide
struggling to rise -
heron’s wings
touch the waves
after the rain
long grasses
bow in gratitude
the rain gone
yet under the tree
raindrops fall
shaking
this way and that -
gum trees
blue sky
fading at the edges -
like autumn
on a wire fence
beads on a necklace -
blackbirds
the tree holds
a thousand copper coins
this autumn day
on a tightrope
spun by the wind –
a hawk
it is so
hot here
on Chunuk Bair
I see flowers
I did not before -
dusk
summer morning
the sun has fallen
into the lake
wet Heron
on a rock looking for fish -
me too!
heat waves
on the road
I must walk
somewhere
in the tree
a cicada
azure sky –
the first cicada
is lonely
dyed with the blood
of a thousand warriors -
a poppy
cricket –
I did not see you
sitting there
butterfly
swirls away -
autumn wind
sunlight -
a million pearls
upon the lake
amidst the gums
a thousand cicadas yet -
I cannot hear a single one
butterfly -
you have no time
to sit with me
my feet
pressed against
the sky
walking with me
this hot day -
a fly
in the reeds
singing the moon a lullaby -
little cricket
deep in the forest
in ones and twos
Matai wait
on the trampoline
my sons
touch the sky
the bee
seeks peace -
its time come
leaves fall
crimson and gold -
weary with autumn
camellia bud
young and pink -
all alone
down the path
beside the pool
I see me sit
wind -
through the orchard
taunts the trees
gum trees
I can wait no more -
stop laughing
your cough
pheasant in the bush
is worse than mine
children
and the garden hose -
natures thermometer
squabbling
amongst the cherry blossom -
bees and tui
sunlight
on the scales
of a silver lake
cicadas gone
a sweeter sound
the cricket’s song
only when I sit
comfortably
do the crickets talk to me
wisteria
floral
waterfall
summer morning
agapanthus and I
face the sun
a fly
on my foot
makes me dance
old cat
moves a little
to rest again
going by
with no muffler -
a fly
down the hill
all summer
waterslide memories
trailing stardust
across the evening
the most wondrous comet
beetle
in the summer sun -
warms itself
like my stone
skipping across the water -
frightened duck
raindrops
on the ground -
I remember flying
spring mountains -
a Van Gough lake
I could not copy
depth of spirit
like a moth –
exists
flattening the grass
with laughter
rolling boys in a box
catching the sun
sliding beneath the surface -
the Taniwha’s scales
shaking the trees -
wind dragons rush on
hissing with glee
watching the cat
watch the finches
watch a bread roll
no frog
in the pond but at night -
in my ears
their mother away
the children
hunt a different victim
All poetry (c) Steven Clarkson 2012-2014
I have revisited the Little Poems collection and recast some in a more traditional form. Why? Well apart from structural issues I wanted to compare how changes in pace, pause placement and wording affected the feel of some of these earlier poems. Some seem a little better, some I haven't altered at all and some I do not think have improved with tampering (I still prefer the original versions). See what you think.
azaleas
vermillion blooms –
how seductive
every night
the stars
wait for me
helping me
to smell the flowers -
my little girl
in the gloom
rain on the mountain -
dusk comes early
her shadow still
staring towards the stars -
little resin fairy
swirling in
the autumn wind -
leaves, finches
stopping to clap
as I jump after him -
a fly
the rain gone
whispering no more
fallen leaves
swaying clover
thick upon the grass
springtime bees
on his wrist -
a lucky rubber band
or school is off
moment of freedom -
fluttering in my hand
a moth
in a tree
unconcerned with my worries
a blackbird sings
the leaves
show a lighter side -
autumn winds
at night
dancing upon the lake -
neon lights
at night -
waves hissing
on the shore
yearning for warmth -
red shoot imbeds its tip
in the blue sky
breathless -
summer cloud stops to rest
against a Kauri
never really there
families at an inquest -
shadows in the fog
tui’s call -
in a black and green sheen
enlightenment
hazy view
mountains on the horizon –
golden afternoons
spring
above the lake –
rosewater sky
at the ball
swaying in satin –
rhododendrons
rainbow fish
amongst the weeds -
dart and stop
frog
under a tree stump
hiding
skipping stones
across the lake –
almost
warm skin
facing the sun -
golden eyelids
in a hurry
the first blowfly
of spring
moon -
following me
home again
a line of clouds
behind Mt Tauhara -
afraid to pass
sheep
eyeing me suspiciously -
lambs bleat
just me
running down the road -
and a dry leaf
too early for spring -
no need to blush so
young cherry tree
sudden dragonfly -
leaping kitten
settles
the cricket
under the floorboards
tells me to shut up
for a moment
the Tui’s call
seems different
asking only
my company -
fantail
lying down
the clouds caught out-
autumn morning
in the dry grass
chasing butterflies -
kittens
last night
Saturn’s rings
tonight – nothing!
barking dog
chased from another home -
the meter man
a pebble falls
friendless in the puddle –
disappears
hidden shrine -
only glimpsed
from the path
worn pebble -
smooth waves
caress
in the distance
a zephyrs kiss
on the chimes
buttercups
searching the heavens -
eternal vigil
dragonfly above
the rock
green water below
planted in a row
struggling with the concept -
trees
driving
between the trees -
the sun
the sun
the sun
by the library
the autumn leaves
are well red
sparrows -
cutting each other off
towards distant clouds
sunset -
on the lake
ducks preen
ducks stand
to flap their wings -
drifting on the tide
struggling to rise -
heron’s wings
touch the waves
after the rain
long grasses
bow in gratitude
the rain gone
yet under the tree
raindrops fall
shaking
this way and that -
gum trees
blue sky
fading at the edges -
like autumn
on a wire fence
beads on a necklace -
blackbirds
the tree holds
a thousand copper coins
this autumn day
on a tightrope
spun by the wind –
a hawk
it is so
hot here
on Chunuk Bair
I see flowers
I did not before -
dusk
summer morning
the sun has fallen
into the lake
wet Heron
on a rock looking for fish -
me too!
heat waves
on the road
I must walk
somewhere
in the tree
a cicada
azure sky –
the first cicada
is lonely
dyed with the blood
of a thousand warriors -
a poppy
cricket –
I did not see you
sitting there
butterfly
swirls away -
autumn wind
sunlight -
a million pearls
upon the lake
amidst the gums
a thousand cicadas yet -
I cannot hear a single one
butterfly -
you have no time
to sit with me
my feet
pressed against
the sky
walking with me
this hot day -
a fly
in the reeds
singing the moon a lullaby -
little cricket
deep in the forest
in ones and twos
Matai wait
on the trampoline
my sons
touch the sky
the bee
seeks peace -
its time come
leaves fall
crimson and gold -
weary with autumn
camellia bud
young and pink -
all alone
down the path
beside the pool
I see me sit
wind -
through the orchard
taunts the trees
gum trees
I can wait no more -
stop laughing
your cough
pheasant in the bush
is worse than mine
children
and the garden hose -
natures thermometer
squabbling
amongst the cherry blossom -
bees and tui
sunlight
on the scales
of a silver lake
cicadas gone
a sweeter sound
the cricket’s song
only when I sit
comfortably
do the crickets talk to me
wisteria
floral
waterfall
summer morning
agapanthus and I
face the sun
a fly
on my foot
makes me dance
old cat
moves a little
to rest again
going by
with no muffler -
a fly
down the hill
all summer
waterslide memories
trailing stardust
across the evening
the most wondrous comet
beetle
in the summer sun -
warms itself
like my stone
skipping across the water -
frightened duck
raindrops
on the ground -
I remember flying
spring mountains -
a Van Gough lake
I could not copy
depth of spirit
like a moth –
exists
flattening the grass
with laughter
rolling boys in a box
catching the sun
sliding beneath the surface -
the Taniwha’s scales
shaking the trees -
wind dragons rush on
hissing with glee
watching the cat
watch the finches
watch a bread roll
no frog
in the pond but at night -
in my ears
their mother away
the children
hunt a different victim
All poetry (c) Steven Clarkson 2012-2014