Poetry:
reflections from C.
Vermeersch
CONCH
An abandoned shell castle
on the bathroom vanity
hovers near the faucets: HOT and COLD
hoarding sounds of water
drip
drip
drip
Days tumble down the waterfall,
one on top the other,
while coiled calcium sits
and swallows wet echoes whole
down its porcelain pink throat.
Conch-
beached like the bar of soap in the dish.
The years like sieves
catching live things.
Wild Swans on the Kabekona
From Daniel,
first gift of the day.
Wild swans in morning meditation;
feathered grace afloat.
Their location, an offering,
from the lips of a child.
Like a bough of lilac,
begging communion
of breath and fragrance.
Flight-weary, sky visitors
rest on the Kabekona.
The river's wet stage mirrors
this gliding Spring ballet
of sculpted, winged,
white migrants.
Kissing the surface,
each swan merges with
its own reflection.
The mist
rising with anticipation.
Departure
like a small death
sudden and surprising.
previous published Lake Country
Journal Dec 1999
