by Jonathan Clark
Then, a full-throated longing
Emerges, in rich and fervid tones
The Cello
A cellist leans over his instrument
As bow bounces off the bridge,
And strings sound ecstatically –
Then, a full-throated longing
Emerges, in rich and fervid tones
I think of you, bejeweled in the shower’s
Artificial rain – I conjure
The name of your neck, the long groove
Down your back carrying water,
An aqueduct of the heart’s sweet pulsing,
And the cello throbs like a wasp’s body
In the perforated hive of summer.
I still love you, can’t think of you
Without wanting to create
A first vibrato with my left hand.
Across The Prairie
Wires stretch across the prairie,
Singing, winnowing the wind.
No great, anarchic sunsets,
Nor bitter winter
Draping bison in white mantles,
Can prevent the wires
From making their strange music.
They set up a glowing field around themselves, as if
To protect the privacy
Of quiet voices traveling over them,
Scattered words of isolated people
In the many house of many towns,
Where every wind reaches, under heaven.
© Jonathan Clark
Jonathan Clark, born and raised in Brooklyn, received his B.A. in English from New York University Heights, and his M.A. in Special Education from Columbia University Teachers College. After teaching in NYC high schools for many years and working for the Board of education as a technical writer, he retired in 2013. Jonathan Clark has been writing poetry since high school, and has had his work published in several small magazines. Over the years, he has been the featured reader at many poetry venues. He has written a large body of work, and is looking forward to having his first book published.
Share the love and wonder by making sure to respect the copyrights! Everything we publish belongs to the authors. You can share their texts via the official link. If you quote them, please credit them. If you wish to republish their work, you can always write to us and we will put you in direct contact with them. Supporting creativity starts with respecting those who create, so we thank you in advance for doing your part!
The Amazine Community 