PHOEBE GIANNISI ~

 

Leaves

Inside these articulations

the beginnings of language

outside of yes and no

inside only the I want

the soul with the body meeting

in all the openly

meteoric leaves

and now, see:

one of them falls slowly

to the earth

_______________

Phoebe Giannisi

Cicada

translated by Brian Sneeden

New Directions 2022

PHOEBE GIANNISI ~

 

Flutes

in a time of idleness,

when the tender breeze

Zephyr

blows and caresses

their cheeks,

they sit in the thick shade

of a rock.

drinking milk

or wine.

lulled by the rustle

of leaves

and the tiny song of the cicada.

carving wood

or whistling.

but the best flute

isn't made of wood

but from the bones

of an eagle.

to make this music

you first needed to learn

how to fly.

_______________________

Phoebe Giannisi

Chimera

New Directions 2024