Willow Walk

villanelle for an adult birthday

now say good riddance to the year gone by

at one more fading of the foolish light

with full rejoicing that you did not die

tomorrow sun will rise on the same sky

and yours will be the task to get things right

now say good riddance to the year gone by

do not dwell long on how it seemed to fly

right past your thought and your diminished might

with full rejoicing that you did not die

get on your feet and led the hard words lie

just keep in mind that things could be less bright

now say good riddance to the year gone by

and get on with the stuff you can't deny

the tasks the pile up and the work not slight

with full rejoicing that you did not die

in dreamless sleep where all thought had run dry

you live for now don't rush the longest night

now say good riddance to the year gone by

with full rejoicing that you did not die

the doctor bird

on knutsford boulevard the doctor bird
sips nectar from the blossoms in the noise
of passing traffic and the tall absurd
motions of people yet the creature's poise
is magical unaltered by the place
or human action honest of its kind
but still as brutal does not steal its grace
restoring beauty in a time that's blind
to this reality there's one more cast
that memory had woken an older tale
of pain and loss from a forgotten past
where all the goods must come at end to fail
yet truth will flutter on a humming wing
asking the heart in spite of all to sing

the longest groan

so much to do but go lie in the sun

and watch the clouds observe each changing shape

while looking upward with your mouth agape

allow the world to go by on the run

there are so many tasks that must be done

but not today there's time for one escape

from sordid duty take some rest and drape

your body on the bench just have some fun

soon you'll encounter the familiar task

hear the old words and even older lies

plunge back into the service of the known

to answer all the questions that they ask

hope to awaken light behind fresh eyes

and heal the causes of the longest groan