Friday, May 12, 2017

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.

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