Two Octets from Last Thursday

Kerby Ave Temporal Octet

(4/6/17)

cherry blossom snowfall with pink cast after

morning rain, the sight of it puts me in mind of

yesterday as a concept; rain not felt, just

circles flowering in puddles until each

corolla dissolves: pondering tomorrow—

scrub jay, now still on the trellis now halting

on damp grass refrains from comment; the flicker

taps in sevens with rests against a plane tree

◦           ◦            ◦

Mississippi Ave Translation Octet

(4/6/17)

two magnolias rustle by the bus stop;

I’d like to give their leaves names: alegria,

saudade, violão—& you’d understand—

of course this sky’s a minor chord mingled with

a major chord, like the man selling roses

from a five-gallon bucket at the corner;

every petal given its name too, you see,

in memory of leaves: joy, yearning, guitar

Jack Hayes

© 2017