look you, whose eyes are wise with too much seen
through doors and windows, in whom the sunlight
is confined by steel canyons and arctic
nights, here is heart space, here clouds rise between
warm currents to open roofs, see how the height
of climb and width of free brightens to tropic
taste this, you tongue lovers, you gourmets, you
who know the ends for which the palette buds
bloom to burst on a thousand sauces, wines,
rare meats and molded cheeses, what brew
is this, what essence extracted from muds
and rooted origins of leaf that taste defines
breathe, ah breathe again, purge out the unclear
lungs, the downbent head, smell has other use
than multiplies in shop and factory
to substitute the sense, no need to fear
the pure air here, to hide subtle and obtuse
behind the mob's excuse, here the wind blows free
reach out, know touch as up and down, the span
of head to heel, thigh to shoulder, each side
with rough of bark to blossom, stone to dust,
how else but by the feel, the real, can man
press nature to his will and impel his pride
in shaping to his needs an earth which he can trust
go up, your feet will take you high above
streets and buildings to a new position
forget the old appointments, you have a more
important one with God to measure love
not by the scrupled ways of acquisition
but freely as the stars that follow and explore
while I live
my love is a hart seeking the waterfall
where he may press two lips against its crystal
depths--see how he leaps to kiss the imaged mist
that bubbles up beneath him--he staggers, kissed
my love is an alpine trail that mountains climb
above clouds and timber to heights out of time
and measure--no distance there or memory
for weak foot and tired brain--but death only
my love is a trumpet sustaining its call
to the last clear breath--listen, the interval,
out of canyon silences, on the dry wind,
the throat of night catches, its echoes are thinned
my love is a dream where childhood fell asleep
beckoned by shadows that lengthen as they creep;
now she sighs, weeps, losing her way--morning wakes
the sleeper and she smiles, her eyes are lakes
odyssey
ah never say the dreams were false
that boy and girl were madly bold
not time but timeless changes all
man and woman we should know
what we dreamed was what we were
and could not timeless be
two strange wild things in universe
too tame for altering
then let them keep without reserve
the wings they had prepared
and while we walk a humbled earth
see them with spirit dare
life I love
life I love who know the heart's unease
the mind's disease, the search unending
to a blind conclusion
I have gone so many ways
towards praise, away from blame
to find seclusion
known coldest doubt and passionate release
the after peace of countless wars grown tired
by their own diffusion
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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