The Coming of the Toads

A Notebook – Since 2007

Tag: benches

  • Some Photos

    Two paths, and you probably know the rest. But un-sorry, we took a photo at the point of divergence, and did not find the light puzzling at all:

    Empty green benches aligned in columns below the concrete concert stage in the small caldera, and three stone wall benches, none very comfortable for very long, and a basketball court over the hill in the distance:

    Running in the caldera on the green-yellow grass below the east wall:

    Tennis courts with puddles fresh from a winter rain, shadows of trees against a grey sky, leaning nets, no oaths:

    Bent trees reaching for light over stage right above the benches:

    “To meet as far this morning
    From the world as agreeing
    With it, you and I
    Are suddenly what the trees try…”

    John Ashbery, from “Some Trees,” 1956.

  • Benches

    On benches in parks I’ve sat for a time
    to study under trees that filled the air
    space and clock count of season and reason
    circled by children dancing and being
    where we get away from Earth for awhile
    flying benches to the moon through branches.

    But kids don’t sit on benches for too long
    and after a snow the park is stone cold
    if you go out you’ll hear the benches groan
    see paint peel the wood cracking like branches
    the distant winter sun cool as heaven.

    Here is one a bench branch elephant’s trunk
    bent low for the girls to climb up and sit
    bouncing to tunes in the key of summer.

    I will find a bench to sit and pull out
    pen and notebook the devil to scribble
    in a park street sidewalk outside a pub
    wherever placed with angels of quiet grace
    and return to Earth in time for dinner.