Barry Spacks: "Within Another Life"

Those whose days were grudging or confused
may come back trapped within another life

as a boulder, or a pane of glass,
or a door that suffers every time it's slammed.

If I return a boulder, love, some summer day
come sit by me and contemplate these horses and these hills.

And if a windowpane, gaze through to see
the meadow on our walks where the brown geese strut.

And if I am a door, come home through me,
be sure I'll keep you safe.

And if a knotted, twisted rope,
from long self-clenching and complexity,

oh love, unbind, unbraid me then
until I flow again like windswept hair.

"Within Another Life" by  Barry Spacks. Text as published in Poetry (December, 1999).

Art credit: "Wind in your hair," photograph by Alexandru Vita.

Barry Spacks: "What Breathes Us"

                                 Regards to the day, the great long day
                                 that can't be hoarded, good or ill.

                                 What breathes us likely means us well.


                                 We rise up from an earthly root
                                 to seek the blossom of the heart.

                                 What breathes us likely means us well.


                                 We are a voice impelled to tell
                                 where the joining of sound and silence is.

                                 We are the tides, and their witnesses.

                                 What breathes us likely means us well.

"What Breathes Us" by Barry Spacks. Text as published on CrossConnect (Volume II, Issue I, 1996). Listen to the poet read his poem.

My thanks to Teddy Macker for suggesting this poem for the collection.

Art credit: "Ocean Tides," image by unknown photographer.