lei fraser

in passing, no more
the sun across the trees
or the breeze through the open window
no more
as night stretches to the corners
and the burning sun finally sleeping
brings some relief
no more the words that dress the fingers,
the pages, the books, the painting that lies
behind the eyes, unpainted
unthought of
now, even the images are not luring
drawing against a virgin canvas
demanding to be seen
instead, just passing
like a child on a bicycle
rolling oblivious passed
the smart fence-lined yards
with small dogs barking salutes
and running to the ends of their ropes
before they are reminded suddenly
that life has limits
passed the overgrown gully and low willows
to the pond
with only a thought to sit idly by water’s edge
until the fish bite at least once
in passing, no more
the wish for elsewhere, or anywhere
or nowhere
just passing
through
like the sun on its way to
beginning again

~

06.26.07
Leigh-Anne Tyson

It is as though the end strangles me
When I sit here, hands poised on the desk,
Trying, in vain, to complete one sentence…
I am not able to manage to do it
Not when the leaves on the tree outside,
Framed asymmetrically by the window and
Struggling to lift up from the branch
Cannot move…
Not even the faint whisper of a breeze can aid them
Of course the idea,
a seed left for a starving mind to devour
Could not be left on the screen
or alone on the rim of my thoughts
not when something longs to be expressed
(however illusive and meandering)
and walking through the thick velvety curtains
of another summer afternoon
fails to deter me from the obvious
let the page fall to white
incomplete

~

26.06.07
Leigh-Anne Tyson

under the pass
where the river bends
to the north
I stand to think
before long sitting on
the jagged shore
willows hang low
where at dusk
fireflies
dance in the grass
finally free in the
long, cool shadows
a moment’s grace
at the end of
the heavy heat of
another summer day
Oh Moon,
your silver face
bent close to see,
reflected in the tiny waves
and ripples below
even the stone,
firmly resting in the riverbed
bows to the flowing water
carrying you, the light
and the night with it
here,
this is where
I breathe
like leaves
widespread
to catch the dew

~

26.06.07
Leigh-Anne Tyson

Out beyond the sea –
This is where I look
When I am standing on the shore
But if I was out there where would I look?
If I sat, in perfect balance with each wave
Like a petal fallen from the stem
Just after the time of blooming
Rocked in those unseen arms
Cradled unwittingly
Where would I look
Which direction?
To the sky who’s broad face
Would smile endlessly down over me
Or out to the tips of my fingers
Extended in every direction
With only ocean in sight
Or down
Down past my own reflection
Looming deep to where the fish
And other creatures of the sea
Live, lurk and wait
What is plain of course leaves me breathless
While the other
The other, in its unknown splendor
Leaves me shivering
But doesn’t stop me from looking
Watching, feeling, wondering
What lays below beyond the reach
Of the sea

~

22.05.07
Leigh-Anne Tyson

I know who you are
And then don’t because
I choose to wander with my eyes
Half closed and stupid
And not my heart
You – it’s like looking around a corner
Using the glass shattered on the ground
In front of my next step
To show your reflection before
I make the turn
Oh – you are not as elusive as
I’d like you to be
Dressed in the clothes
That I thought I had discarded
Not wanted
Even forgotten
I would set each of you
So fancy in your pants and
Mocking faces
Along the edge like
Chess pieces ready to be toppled
Except I lack the cleverness
To win the contest
I would just be the indignant child
Sweeping the pieces off
With my forearm and fist
Ah you – it is comfort that I seek
In looking at you like you are
A mirror of myself
Searching in the wrinkled corners
Of your eyes, the hollowness of
Your smile – looking for something
That has long since eluded me
Except for in dreams or other such
Delusions
It doesn’t matter now
You can tottle off and leave me here
To sort it out
The sun, the moon, each on its own path
And I am just the witness
To it all – including you
Yes – it’s not a good ending for
A poem that never ends with you
I know

~

22.05.07
Leigh-Anne Tyson

Outside the window
As night creeps through the branches
And the sky blushes as it would
When the sun rises in the morning
Blushes caught, unexpectedly naked
And longing for what has passed
What has yet to come
This is when I find myself wishing
Like a fool
For what is gone or never was
Never could be or always was
But I was too stupid to notice
I can hear the doves, sleepy in their cooing
Calling out to each other
Or just calling out – who knows really which
Cars roll by after a long work day
And the smell of the heat from the sun
Still lingering in the air
The love
That I miss being
Is stretched out and laying
Across the shadows in the yard

~

22.05.07
Leigh-Anne Tyson

tonight
tomorrow is another day
for other thoughts
as always
tonight
the past and other
worlds collide
the angel wings
and fallen ones
like unfinished poetry
float through
the night, the ether
confusion is
starkly contrasted by
the clear sky
and full moon
questions dot the horizon
like stars just now seen
what, if now you see
who I am
and have always been
is not enough
for you to believe?
what if it is never going to
be enough?
and this I know already…
the night sky holds
little comfort
that instead
like blooms across my table
open in the lamp light
the love light
my light
so that, yes, finally
I see.

~

02.05.07
Leigh-Anne Tyson

finally sun
reflected
in the sharp corners
and hard surfaces
flung out
across the ground
walking barefoot
my choice
I step here
step there
cut my foot on
hidden dangers
walk further
in the sunshine
until the sun dips down
behind the rows
of houses and
the silhouettes
of still bare trees
waiting for buds and
blossoms to open
finally sun
and its shadows
to follow along
the long empty streets

~

18.04.07
Leigh-Anne Tyson

these days that pass
like the brush of a wing
laughter that rushes in
on the long arms of the wind
these days that propel me
forward, onward, upward
lift me and hold me high
it is the stones that ground me
in the somber moments
remind me of the depth
of soil of soul
always within my grasp
tips of fingers down
and then to fly
to fly

~

17.04.07
Leigh-Anne Tyson

shadows and sunlight
dress the yard and
remind me of the rest
the leaves that cover
the flowers slowly
moving upward
protection against
the last remnants of winter
birds, squatting and restless
on the naked branches
wind flustered and hungry
from the long return
it is dangerous
to breathe
to write
to live
when the world
is tilted at an angle
what slips off?
what goes unnoticed?
what leaves before
goodbye touches
the lips?
dangerous but
not impossible
not when the shock
of yellow crocus
erupts through
and the buds explode
on the vine
long enough
to remind
the world
in its tilting way
there is more
to come

~

13.04.07
Leigh-Anne Tyson

quiet stillness
wrapped unwrapped
not meant for comfort
not tonight
but for opportunity
to hear
to listen
and to see
the difference in where
the two meet

and where
they meet
where do they meet?
there is no comfort
not there or here
mind responsible again for
leaving the rest awake
wandering
at times
but then focused
clear

what is done is done
what must be done
will be

life falls
through the water
like sand
falling to the ocean floor
and laying itself out
in layered piles
clumps that slump
against each other
waiting for the years
to harden them into
something beautiful

but now
maliable and shifting
with the waves and currents
no neat pieces
falling together
none
and that
that is ok.

a night without
and not knowing
what is missing
~
21.03.07
Leigh-Anne Tyson