Norman Fischer
Three Poems from Through a Window
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acacias yellow now
light-painted things to see that are there before eye through window — distant grey rock’s there tree trunk’s there patch of sky blue there, there T H E R E and her strong voice laughing, scorning what others may think to do a deer’s there as they are placid grazing, digesting they seem peaceful to cohabitate |
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tiny branchtip wavings
pittosporum, eucalyptus living’s a mantled vehicle fenced with wooden railing pip pip pip’s heat sound life’s heat, movement Cloud. Cover. But small patches of blue sky distanceseen that the eye sees distance as nor flat but distancespace D I S T A N C E mind’s hand’s writing lifted over the ground green & white & blue lit by heavens above dry leaf floats by across view of this narrow & brown passionate gone leaving this for wonder |
3
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Sun!
this further painting maybe things click & hum in mind, whir like backstage machinery brass doorknob guards this human freedom’s thought, passion hope, hype — ’s likewise that : eyes hold shape, color, from bounced dark light from meaning’s feeling’s memory drops personal symphonic score plays this piece |
POEM (seed pods) |
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Seed pods rosebuds
And road beds-- One hidden peace Infuses the city At twilight And the blinds of the day Lower in the tall buildings Eyelids flutter People huddle seeking rest In hope of natural dawn As neverending tales are told Just as if no tale at all Had ever before been told In endless tonguetellings Measured breathing Deep and long Some look up others down Some across to obstructed Or open views Sun appears on another Side of the earth newly bright There’s dark here The steady state of space Marooned upon itself And alone but for what Fills it in all directions Viewpoints proliferate With eyes open and shut Everywhere the seen seen Amid the general silence The human body’s cynosure Waits to reveal itself To the beloved Yet unborn |
POEM (swell trains) |
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Some wafting feathers in a corner of the picture…
Let’s think about religion your Religion, mine, the non religion Of the religious in which God Speaks in thunder to the multitudes In braided words in rumbles Suddenly sun lights up a room, (There is more brightness in deep Space than was previously reckoned…) A tree outside, as if it had burst into flames Reality calling Out through eye that Still works to bring skycolor Into view, ear that Still affords intimacy of windsong Such words that took Thousands of years to arrive — calls out With particular demands that are not unserious -- You have to live It must matter Let those waves out there (Long period northwest swell trains) Wash over your head you’re here |
Editor's Note: Through a Window, the source of the first three poems, is a book length series. He is also a Zen monk, and has published a number of books on Buddhism. Other of Norman Fischer's books of poetry include, but are not limited to, Selected Poems 1980 -2013 and The Museum of Capitalism.
