a::::maze::::d, by D. R. James

Improvisation 27: Garden of Love 2, by Vasily Kandinsky (Russia). 1912.

​a::::maze::::d
 
 ::dive in anywhere::::go ‘round and ‘round
on pearl or coral::::cross on cobalt::
::stall against the black mass::::the black
slabs that finger under rivers of rose::
::your hazel eyes will search unmirrored the
rings like years::::vibrato’d, banded angles::
::your sparrow childhood will scan for
the far mouth of corn stalks::::inflict patient
waiting before screaming::::scrawls in clay
will cue the silliness of ancient glyphs::
::saplings will bend and sing to the wind::
::darkened leaves will unhem and dawn’s
paradise will shatter, the  constellations
of fine lines torn apart for a merciless
afterward waving like harsh flags::
::but then a familiar vermillion will send
autumn’s frost dissolving, diurnal hours
zigzag-falling like freewheeling feathers::
::until tonight ages into its sedate pitch::::those
baffling coils slacken into cool-jazz Taps::::and
you view the horizon glimmered and wobbled:: 

D.R. James

This poem was first published in Broadkill Review.

This poem was written as part of a tribute to artist Merle Rosen, inspired by one of her untitled paintings.  Visit her website to discover her work. http://www.merlerosen.com/ The Kandinsky image shown, however marvellous, is not the source of inspiration for the poetry.

D. R. James has taught writing, literature, and peace-making at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, for 33 years and lives and writes in the woods east of Saugatuck. His most recent of seven collections are If god were gentle (Dos Madres Press) and the chapbooks Split-Level andWhy War (both Finishing Line Press).