Poetry from Alan Catlin

Affective Seasonal Disorder Three Times

1-

Deer at first light

wreathed in mist

transforming to real

objects

escaping dream

2-

Sunlight spreads

light on still pond

surface

3-

The pattern a setting

sun makes on clouds

before they disappear


Affective Seasonal Disorders Five Times

1-

Ground fog makes

headstones out of

black rocks;

silent tides recede

2-

Thick night fog

swallows street lights;

the moon

3-

Blue Heron in sunset

afterglow at full moon

rising

first flowers on trees

4-

Early first ice withers

last cling of leaves-

the grass tingles

5-

War  memorial statue

in Central Park-

icicles on sculpted

guns

bayonets

Affective Seasonal Disorders Six Times

1-

Dawn without light.

intense fog, then

a light rain.

Slowly the sun

clarifies.

2-

Gray haze over

bay. Fragments

of light breaking

through-

almost dawn

3-

Bike trail in Winter.

Frozen ruts where

the tires go.

4-

Free of ice pond.

Still water reflects

mid-day sun.

5-

Clear night-a full

moon creates shadows

6-

After noon white out,

wind-blown drifts,

sideways snow,

white on white

Summer Dreams Four Times

1-

Hottest night of Summer.

A fan in every window.

Who let the skunks out?

2-

Pieces of blue sky

between low black clouds.

Sunlight trying to break

through

3-

Fractured light filtered

through stained glass

window

Broken prisms

on hard wood floor

4-

Sunset over the ocean-

a study in scarlet

Lunar Caustics Three Times

1-

Full moon eclipse.

Prophets say:

“The end is near!”

For now, a thing

of beauty.

2-

A circle of fire

surrounds the moon-

a dream with red

objects in it.

3-

Falling stars leave

scars of light

across the night sky

Mostly Crows Three Times

1-

Crows in Winter sky:

black wings furled

against gray clouds-

ice chips for eyes.

2-

Birds nesting in

eaves-wasps

live there too.

3-

“Do crows dream?”

Zen poet responds,

“who cares?”

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