Alone's First Thought

alone's first thought
is birdsong (it matters not the where
or the why orthe whohownow) buzzing
in this tenderness of air

while humanity sleeps to the whirrhumclick
of its own devices
the world yawns
scratches its hindparts
and lumbers about its morning routine

wren and rabbit hop in dewlight
and nothing (not minute nor macro nor
mysteriously more) disturbs
the flush-tipped dawn that is not
miraculously natural

alone's first thought
is birdsong

((c) TLPatten, 02/2004, all rights reserved)

Reunion (1) Sonnet

quick pain, unknowing
of love, your small form--
your keen haunting,
my bright soundness worn.
blessed gift, i
longing your cry,
stop loving the lie
buying your life;
stop loathing the spring,
green and unstained,
by my neverending
child ungained.
this life unspared, next
i'll hold you to my breast.


((c) TLPatten, 1996, all rights reserved)

Sharp Relief

naked,
he sits on the low-backed chair
his hands languid on the keyboard
pressing the slow Motown rhythm forward
smiling for the song they share.

naked,
she perches on that low back
her thighs straddling his shoulders
crooning the melody to his curls
falling her tears on his neck.

later,
spent and sweaty, he toys idly with her;
she laughs.
why do you laugh now?he asks (because
it is easy to be with you here like this) why
did you cry before? (because
the intimacy was too sweetdeeptrue
for me to bear).

((c) TLPatten, 1996-2004, all rights reserved)

Epitaph

soul, sweet singing
thy brighteyes(diamonds yet
tearing my falteringmemory)gift
unquestioning love
peace
(by piece of piece)of mind
cleave
together unto my life
i give you (safe
passage smoothly quixotic as i am)
to the sky


((c) TLPatten, 1989, all rights reserved)

It's a Great Green Earth

it's a great green earth
with haunting winds and moaning trees
and mountainous breasts to feed such as these
as might wander lustily across her surface

its a broad blue sky
with lotic clouds and lenten stars
and ecstatic light rains down in bars
to nourish the earth in his arms

what holds us here, this fascinating play--
ground and bound to share
a lifeforce woven of clay
an existence chiseled from air


((c) TLPatten, 03/2004, all rights reserved.)

Song for Julie

peach pitted skin sallow damp hair
you lie so still in death that i can almost see you
breathing

can you feel the bruises that your silence left
undone?
a handmade envelope with a 15-cent stamp
a slash-winged carnival-crane bird
2 photographs and a syringe
tokens of your absence now

ken ye the love of the one who wailed your wake?

your tombstone, my pillow
for a time--one night
whisper to me the answers of your life
from your grave


((c) TLPatten, 1987, all rights reserved.)