Three Octets from Monday

Albina Ave Color Theory Octet

(5/8/17)

there's nothing blue like this sky, not the bluebells

swarming by the corrugated fence, shadows

of the fig boughs distorted on its rippled

surface; nothing yellow like the four dandelions

under the fig tree boughs, not the afternoon

sun, which is after all too white for human eyes;

nothing green like these fig leaves spreading fingers

through all dimensions they find a place to touch

◦           ◦            ◦

Albina Ave Octet for Bai Juyi

(5/8/17)

near the flock of black patio umbrellas

ten peonies cast their shadows; Bai Juyi

tells me it’s all about regret when twilight

draws ash-gray curtains east to west & teardrop

bulbs burn amber filaments along their black

wire; down the street, a single orchid seen through

glass bricks but barely; rugosa rose blossoms

against a square fence built from bicyle wheels

◦           ◦            ◦

Peninsula Park Conditional Octet

(5/8/17)

seen in a photo—for instance the photo

being taken of the posed man & woman

seated on its rim—the fountain’s spray would be-

come immortal diamonds arcing across

this afternoon without evaporation—

look! a few cream rose petals unfold themselves

to fathomless sky—though it’s not possible

camellia flowers still bloom in the flesh

Jack Hayes

© 2017

Note for the curious: The reference to Bai Juyi is to his poem 惜牡丹花
xī mŭ dān huā, which can be found in my translation here.