One)                       KNOT 

What is not Love's knot forever tangled is Naught, 

Forever! For 'ever naught', not being and not knot,has paste 

And blame and selfish string strung tautling 

Tight about itself, above it's waist, 

It's scaling takes the scurried haste of spider hung 

Suspended from a strand, its faeces stick 

It's only slime salvation, quickly spun 

Like thousand reeking entrail songs of one false poetic; 

Climb, but seeks self's mountaineering peak, 

Fall, but returns at its task. What love is least 

Is fool to Fate's fast lime, lame or bleak, 

Rushed or worried; less least by the skin released. 

Therefore Naught's thin line slips down 

While Love's strong raptured rope knots sound. 

             Vancouver  1978

 Two)                  Lecture 

One boy's Baumwool beige-bay shoulder 

Harbours the swirl-torn toss of her hair. 

His hair is wet with burnished bronze 

Yet curl-soft-set on white collar-edge. 

His hands strain light all over the girl 

Who stretches,shuddering,in the sea. 

Behind her, by her shaking shook, another eyes 

His casting lust,his look a gust 

That snaps her sail softly in an ease of heat, 

The pirate's private pillage rush,ripping round 

Her heaving neck, pushing past 

Her mainsail's mast to STALL! BOARD! WRECK! her hull forever. 

Socrates, meanwhile, rim-rails out and children 

Salvage through his wind. He tells, from his tomb, how to steer desire.

Three)                 Heron

With its solemn wings pterodactyl like projecting 

Bat thin through thick Sunday morning air, 

It's stake neck and grey-blue beak's dissecting 

Spear stuck straight out in front, it's pair 

Of toothpick legs in back, it beats majestic 

From the shrouded shore silent as soft slipping fog. 

Further along the lichen land it hang-glides fantastic 

Down to stand stick-still beside a log. 

My young friend and I walk on rocks by the sea 

Stalking to catch closer looks at the thing. 

But it breaks from the waves white bubbles bursting; its free 

To soar 'round in a wide sweeping ring. 

Enticingly it drops again. My strong boy finds a rock to toss. 

Don't," I warn him," Let's be friends. Leave this holy albatross."

Four)                     Blood-Brothers 

Brothers of blood tie knotted veins 

Around each other's battle hearts 

The bleeding wounds, their scars and pains, 

Red emblems of a bosomed bond. 

But what becomes of battered breasts, 

Apache brave, bright splattered blood, 

When Peace's Prince holds out his hand 

Pierced with the victory of tender tame? 

Then blood clogs, vein seals, brave rests; 

Mars shows Jeronimo how to bead string. 

Bravado, young friend, the adornment of women, 

Is armour put on by men whose hearts fear. 

Therefore have courage to dance and to sing, 

Reach out your joygentle and armies march after.

 Five)            Midnight Swan 

Like a midnight swan on a glass clear lake 

I glide out my hours of discontent 

Floating along long beams of bright 

Elongated from shore to shore. 

The distant squeals of creatures in pain 

Remind me of the mechanical scar 

Threatening to tear even into the bay. 

I am hiding in rays of pure white light 

Concealed upon the darkness deep. 

I fear my own splashing and cast no shadows 

Riding the invisible purpose of this ghost ghastly night. 

But whoever is mate to these black waves washing 

Is helpmate to me on an ocean of dreams, 

Whoever searches these silent towers is master of the midnight swan. 

                               Kelowna  1981

 Six)                   Seashell 

Be close to me boy,set me to your lips 

My life is emptier than a shell tossed up by an angry storm 

I'm dry as an old sponge cast ashore 

But you're a young vine and a beaker of blood 

Fragile as a crystal vase cold cut and clear 

A fine white wine, you bubble you flow 

You fill up my head you anoint my eyes 

You kiss my cheeks. I'm parched for you boy 

Neck, hands and hair -all you pour out 

You mend me with, your arms which enlace and twine me up 

Spilling out of your brimming cup- or I would crush 

Like powdered bones beneath an endless moonlit night 

I would die of thirst and fright, waiting to be lifted home 

Drifting like a beached whales groan. 

     Kelowna Aug. 1983

 Seven)                           Prostitute 

The chase is up, the killdeer cries, there's a moment of deep insinuation, 

He's no longer surprised or touched to see her- 

An ageing, clumsy, odourless whore. 

Raging silent she turns away, her makeup stained, her compact broken, 

Her pride slapped about like a skirt by strong winds, 

She leans against a closed arcade door, a used protest picket. 

Her Humour's heel breaks and she feigns great injury 

Flapping a wing against soundproof glass. 

How foreign they were in the act of consorting 

And yet and still he lodges inside her 

But only a sliver, not a steak or dagger. 

She will recover, she's not really wounded 

Only let her a weep awhile huddled against the slashing rain 

Like a worn old mansions sways and shudders under the strain of too many boarders.

        Kelowna 1983 

Eight)                   September Sonata 

So Softly sing Signor Turiddu that tender prelude Siciliana 

Lilting lover's languish for Lola, wife of Alfio. 

So zart singt der singer von Mama Lucia 

Pleading to prophets in Paradisio 

Plump purple grape clusters droop with red wine, 

Apples pull heavy on low hanging branches 

Snapdragons sweeten and violets incline to 

Bend slender necks like poor Santuzza 

Press out your heart, unlucky Turiddu 

Lament your loves' longing until the moon bleeds 

The harvest Sun's haze lies low on the valley 

Of crossed intentions, of ripe crops' seeds 

Sow, sow the same song you then sang of Springtime, 

Though your roots rot away and leaves smell of death. 

       Kelowna 1983

Nine)                 Sketch 

You and I lie, two bodies reclined, aligned 

Along a sleeping blanket. Mine the naked needing line 

That cares to crest across your thighs' young ultrafine design. 

Time time time to trace a tender true caress 

Upon the contours of your chest. You're a youth at rest 

I'm a man undressed looping around your legs' shoreline 

My soul newly circumscribed and refined 

My shadow rubbed out, the old form erased, 

Graced and refaced by a stronger hand,a more solid mind. 

Oh later let me stretch my arm down along your 

Lumpy spine. Changeling. Mitre. Masterchild. 

Why should I be your change of perspective 

Jealous, protective: Here You Lie! foreshortened, reflective. 

One incomplete, one in his prime,two spirits sprawl in calm outline.        

MTen)                  Balancing Man 

Dark like a half moon's black night side 

My mind's divide hides my heart from ruin 

The ruin you ride as you slide down her belly 

Into a gullet of clowns, toys and fools. 

I see your Will dance at her Whims request 

And writhe with your poor Pride's pale distress. 

She was one wanting but now her success gloats 

With each gift you grant her. My coat falls off 

And is covered by death. I shudder I dry 

A winter tree besieged by blizzards; dormant and dumb. 

But the Hope of me lingers, a savior's sap, hanging on 

In agony. How soundly gleams her Moon's victory eye 

Cratered, cold, deceptive, sly. Stunned you sway in it's dreamless trance 

Steady I stay in the my shameless expanse, clocked by a frameless midnight sky. 

                          1983 Kelowna

11)               Amor Victorious 

Two grey gulls in syncopated time swing 

Smartly smoothly side-by-side across a blue lake's 

Morning mirror. Swerve steady still, keep strong beside 

Each other's calm bay bodies' glide- stroke sure they ride! 

So too let our two spirits slide streaming 

With purpose pure and affection. Changing direction 

Both beige birds sway but perfectly parallel 

Flying stay strung together feather by feather 

Beak by Beak do you decipher the song I speak? 

Day by month hour by week I close in on 

The flight we seek. The road you take to learn 

Is mine. The updraft route you climb I climb. 

Dip,Twist,Turn and Dive. Twins of timing return, revive 

Touching our outstretched wings we survive. 

                                                 1983

12)                  Harvest 

His sunspun hair coloured duck's down gold he presses 

Against me slack in the shower spray drops bursting 

Hot off bronze tiles and stainless steel fixtures 

And sunflowered curtains silver bright beads 

Slide down his neck, leaf shaped bangs mat back on his brow 

A laser spirit inside a youth's body, he urges on 

My nude nuclear reaction until I blow up like a ruptured 

Oil well my fuel wasting out spilling over his belly 

Where water washes it quickly away. Kissing his mouth 

His tongue sprouts a treasure his lips mould with mine 

But I'm melting madly I dissolve down the drain 

Dripping over the bath rug, i'm Dali's 'Memory' in front 

Of a mirror,standing,one head over the other, contained again 

Searching for changes, my hand reaches over his ripe round shoulder. 

                Kelowna 1984

13)                    Absence 

Gods Will heeds Need to his Time I trust 

As to my neighbour's guard and keeping 

As to the old widow's watchwork weaving Justice 

Into the stole of my soul's sowing and reaping. 

His Hand reaches round to control The Tables 

Turns on Envy and electrifies Longing 

But also patterns A Lover's love Fables 

That fold into flesh and fulfill their seeds' spawning. 

His fabric falls when I fall in despair 

Thinking my wool's worth a failure's fit 

Alters then only with waiting and care 

To reform what was false into Faith's fine habit. 

For I am a test of his Art and Fashion 

Quality's cloak the reward of fixed passion

14)                    Charm 

Yeh sure as the Crow knows his darkest dream hours 

Sure as my saddest heart's signals send to him 

So sure surrounds him this spell spun for safety 

Web wound to my young Lord's weary heart. 

Sharpen his eyes to those who would challenge 

Let him not fear the dual intentions of my soul 

Which guards to give and gives but to receive. 

Like light to a leaf is he to me 

And sure old Odin heard my parched prayer 

That sent Raven beating black braille signs 

Across the Sunday morning skyscape.Yeh certain 

As my silver silk sash shields his body 

So curtain his laughter, spirit and courage 

Son having none to keep from harm, seal with my life this strongest charm. 

                   Kelowna 1984

15)                  Warning 

Like the great bellowed voice of an angered God 

Blasts down through thick clouds, so I trumpet 

Beware! To the 'brane of your ear. For God is dumb 

And cannot speak but by calamities, rewards, evils 

That linger in the system, signs of nature and the outcome 

Of events. I am God's voice, if you are God's ear. 

Don't be deaf to a man who has held you near 

And holds you most dear, a man mad yet melancholy, 

Gentle yet determined, fearful yet enduring. 

Let me ignite the main virtues of your soul, lift you up 

Like a boosted rocket launched into the highest orbit, 

Spark the main stages of your being. The fuel you 

Burn now wastes your potential, women fool you, 

Hissing lies. Your countdown cools while the Commander cries,"BEWARE!" 

                     1984

16)                         Chain 

We two like prisoners separately chained, bound 

To plod through diverse routines, apart by decree, 

By age and space, nevertheless stay free from disgrace.

Weekends we file till our shackles break 

Rub our wounds, laugh and shake the wrought iron cuffs 

From our tongue twisted wrists, but we can't escape the government's lists. 

Oh friend clasp me close by the base of your neck 

If worn lightly I shatter,a thousand cheap chinks- 

If worn tightly I matter, a million dear links 

Keep me clean or I tarnish; a beat bachelored wreck. 

Parting so sudden on Sundays past noon, we return 

To our walls,our chain gangs, our rooms. I rush 

My delivery truck all over town while you run after 

Bells that make you sit down. Long shall I wait for the Bell 

Of our freedom, for the clang of my spirit welding to yours. 

    Kelowna 1985