Ladder
man in an orange shirt and pith helmet
climbs up a very tall ladder
to the top of a brick building
a young couple with long frizzy hair
(his held back in a bandana)
crosses the street
three islands lie out in array
they are visible, seemingly of their own
volition, under spotty cloud formations
beyond a stretch of bay
the flowers here are so succinct
they have a verbal quality
peonies in late June under heat
looking fresh as recent rain
pansies so utterly themselves and rare
vibrant, gigantic tomato plants ready
to burst with fruit, extra touches
here and there all effortlessly alive
from “Places”
(Rockport)
tall grasses arise from one’s view
in front of the car, where you’re parked
and the paintings you saw also show
this land, these remote and local views
town where you’ve always stopped
and had thoughts, ever given
to descents, green vistas of cold
no longer a thought, but healed
(Camden Hannaford)
A person pulls out of the parking lot
in a white car with her family
concern on her face, but everything
has somehow been considered
For Cole
I somehow see your desire to go into the river
You left to be within the beauty
You went, and going took us partially with you
Yet we walk under a leaden sky
Walk and meet and write
As always but not as ever, never etched
Partially, and yet we do, because we have
Been driven to see again inside your river
Years
they sat round the restaurant
the years possessing them
and then passing
as they drank wine and ate
delicious steaks
the subject was their friendship
but seeing it was always
slightly out of reach
in the courtyard, a soft
upreaching cactus grew out of
an oblong planter
a cypress raised its head
into the blue from below
a tiled roof
many other plants filled
in the space
as if by necessity