DREAMERS ~

Night Table

Here is part of you

While you sleep —

The small shine

Of silver earrings

Dreamers

To reach down at knee height

And bring your hands up under

Her dress and rise without

Hesitation or any resistance

Is naked

Naked

Round sunburn

Neckline of

Her blouse

A Tree Full Of Birds

for Janine Pommy Vega

That’s what I heard one morning

In a no-nothing town between

Phoenix and Tucson, where it

Appeared desolate and desperate

With a mall and motel and a big

Highway running through it all

And even the motel desk didn’t

Know the name of the route number

Of the highway when I asked the

Next morning with a desire to go

To the mountains north — as if no

One went to the mountains from here —

But I did, and before I left, hours

Before I asked any questions, birds

By the hundreds came to the trees and

Bushes of this motel square, dipping

Even into the swimming pool, and whether

It was sunrise that lit each bird yellow

Or if in fact they were yellow and each

Singing magnificently in the coolness of

Daybreak when I was awakened gladly

And stepped out my door and onto a long

Balcony to see and hear and feel the most

Beautiful day in the world begin

————————————

BOB ARNOLD

I'm In Love With You

Who Is In Love With Me

Longhouse 2012