CAMERA OBSCURA

It’s Renie’s intricate photo—Northern
California coast near Mendocino,
predawn or predusk (my gaze can’t govern
for sure)—darkblood sand and sea, inferno
sky of molten lava and steamy clouds
bordering bright, scorching arm of white heat
stretching over ocean’s horizon. Shroud
of seawall holds back the surge. Shadowed streaks
of sea grass surround us in foreground. Once,
my hurried hands turned the frame upside down:
A small, surreal eye of sprinkled ink, lanced
and dwarfed by shaggy lashes, sees a crown
of ebony floating on Flaming Star
Nebula’s plasma, or bright crust of Mars.

Roger Armbrust
April 18, 2009

SYMPHONY

Birdsong, wind chimes, wheezed breathing of constant
traffic along North Lookout, blending with
gradual creaks of bedroom walls, distant
chorus of children’s calls forming a wreath
joyous on church playground across the street,
and from parking lot below, neighbors’ cars
in their ritornello as they repeat
tires’ slow crunch of scattered pebbles. We are
captive to this morning harmony, love,
holding each other, sculpture of senses
beneath these old sheets, this bed sacred glove
of our being. Through our long silences
we praise this sonata, its entrancing
our existence, our glowing eyes dancing.

Roger Armbrust
April 9, 2009

LE CŒUR A SES RAISONS

Blind channel and banshee, with family
of frigate birds scowling loudly, full moon
hiding, then sliding from behind dark lee
of cumulus, and our Fifie—sails soon
to catch rising gale, bend us away past
Isle of Man through glowing, seething Irish
Sea—will test our ageless endurance, vast,
flamed passion for life and bonding, famished
by fear this sad year of loss, lingering
witches of despair howling outside our
dim halls, their scrawny, pale hands fingering
chilled air, urging us to follow, cower
at their feet. Hold tight to me, love. Attend
to stars as I steer through this lashing wind.

Roger Armbrust
April 4, 2009