Poetry from Duane Vorhees

OLD SONGS SUNG AGAIN



This beach that we run on, this beach that we sun on,

was a cold mountain once, indomitable quartz.

An insatiable wind chewed the granite into flinders.

The weathered remains gathered themselves as grains

along this treasured shore, this diamond corridor.

But the bored, restless waves too soon will take their leave,

Our beach’s secret cache will be revealed: the smashed

shells, patches of lather, condoms, crap, cadavers….



Life is like a ledger book.

Plusses and losses shape our plans.



The past is a castle; the present, a pasture:

Both are famous for blades (for cattle, or for knaves).

Instants leave instantly, last an eternity,

and new historians find and restore eons.

…. Mississippi …. Egypt …. Pasts clatter in their crypts,

yesterday’s tomorrows detached from their augurs.



Busses and crosses map our lands.

Life deserves a second look.



EVIDENCE FOR THE MUTATIONAL CODEPENDENCE OF TIME 



Yesterday 

today 

was 

tomorrow 

& my future



:ours



JEN




Not too short, not too thin,

she hid her out within.

She never showed her smile,

never revealed her pain.



SHAPE OF GOD DEBATED



Once, the future shape of god

was subjected to debate

between Simons, one a sage

and the other dubbed a rock.

One said

that a hermitage

was proper for apostles,

and the other

that brothels

were the fittest

for a sage.



Along with the skies,

the Hawk’s wings

lift

human prayers and praise.

But all the tears

are embraced

by the coils of the

Snake. 



LEAP FROG 



In slo/ 

        /mo 

                                               / frog.

           tree, and, shade, leap / 

Seasons pass, and Velcro lovers to Teflon stray.

Tomorrow 

will we kids too play 

   kids 

   play              leap 

                                   frog 

                                           

                                           leap?