December 5, 2022

As some of you may remember, I also dabble in the two-dimensional “arts,” having built collages from an early age. I could not paint, but I could arrange images on posterboard, in scrapbooks, in photo albums. I collect from everywhere — from interesting greeting cards (remember Parlett’s? I still miss that store) to magazines (cut) and books (copied). I rarely pull from the internet, because I need to be presented with an image — not look for one.

At any rate, it’s fun and scratches another itch to create. Lately, however, I’ve found myself exploring the compilations of images with words — because there is always a theme — I can’t help myself. So, these 3 poems are derived from 3 collages.

A Collage Called “Fallfest”

The trees are snowing leaves 
loosened by gravity's grasp --
A blizzard of enchantment 
which surely we can gather
and hammer into lasting gold.


A Collage Called “Unearthing”

It's more than working the edges
or the obvious -- of the buried, 
the stark, the superficial.
Rain does more than wet.
Stone conceals more than weight.
Yesterday exceeds just memory.
Every common life exists within 
something more -- 
Like a bruised apple dropping 
into a hand that catches. 


A Collage Called “The Buffalo and Butterfly”

He is snow dusted -- she rests
on a sun-bleached stone.
They are alpha to omega.
The indomitable to the
translucent.
And all other images
simply commentary.