In 3 Acts: Elephants Cats & Buddha Seas

Painting by Anthony Anastor


in 3 acts: elephants cats & Buddha seas


circus drunk brass battered
horns & hog skin drums
mad monkey chatter
crunch of peanut
shell calliope
twist of
trapeze
tar

this day forgot to hire a judge
or if you like the clowns
barreling elephants
in the holds of
mighty ships
aimed for
roundin’
Africa

& a ringmaster
given to top
hat daisies
just for
today
let’s
be
it

* * *

a cartouche dream of
an Egyptian Alice
who taught
the sea to
roll its
belly
like
cats

in a canyon with
69 tornadoes
Buddhas
carved
into
narrow
wall lace of
a layered light

above four angels
Dharma body leaning
blossoms dimensions breathe
when you turn away from wanting
ready souls waiting for the stars
to pick a rhythm
& if you marry me i will curl those days
into sea wreaths
the blue heaven of all that caresses
island shores of spinning
arms round & round laughter & yes
the long grass bows to beauty

* * *

who tuned this Tibetan wedding march
or is it a funeral—o we get tangled
so just work & it will work
& it will get free & she
will be there & this
sun will still slide
south & north
the grackles

will lose their feathers
& the daughters will want more
even as the stars sharpen—how to
pierce a heart—not a game
but the way clears if
you learn to play
with your
light

it is not so lonely
you humming
as it rolls
its belly
o big
cat
of
the sea


Richard Lance Williams

Posted over on More Poetry