watercolor by Mary Shephard
.
The American
April 4, 2017 (Field Guides)
American
I am a continent
surrounded by two mighty oceans
a middling zone
feet at equator
skies with moon and sun;
earthly mountains and vales
dessert creatures underground
flower blossoms blowing in the wind
majestic and humble
all at once an altar for my God.
quicksilver
all rights
Field Guide
Once, in the cool blue middle of a lake,
up to my neck in the most precious element of all,
I found a pale-gray, curled-upwards pigeon feather
floating on the tension of the water
at the very instant when a dragonfly,
like a blue-green iridescent bobby pin,
hovered over it, then lit, and rested.
That’s all.
I mention this in the same way
that I fold the corner of a page
in certain library books,
so that the next reader will know
where to look for the good parts.
Tony Hoagland
in Unincorporated Persons in the Late Honda Dynasty
The Vibrant Channeled Creator 