Ikon in Sand
Under a flypaper-swaddled tomato,
straight stands the ranger.
Tattooed baby warbles magnificent manifestoes
Yowl out your hambone antiphons of silent supper
Ranger cries out, no levee will save us while
inky infant steams the muskeg burgoo.
Tear the heart of a cloud.
Pull the thunder down into fissured blackness.
Break granite skulls of old gods.
Crush the iron hats of comic pretenders.
Trace ikons of a forgotton saint in the red sand.
Holes in air, in ice, not a rule until it's broken.
Madonna of the water gives birth to turtles.
She feeds herons and weeps.
From a gut-strung pike's jaw harp
airs of consolation spin away her tears
like spray on a breeze.
Her image in the sand dissolves
Goodberry sprouts in the silt-stink
under cloudburst drum songs
flowing from the heart of the Penokees.
Kalliope
Means "beautiful voice" from Greek καλλος (kallos) "beauty" and οψ (ops) "voice". In Greek mythology she was a goddess of epic poetry and eloquence, one of the nine Muses.
Join us every Tuesday afternoon at the Daily Kos community political poetry club.
Your own poetry is always welcome in the comments.
Bongos, berets & turtle neck sweaters optional.
The keyboard is mightier than the sword.
Readers & Book Lovers Series Schedule: