Tag: The Road Not Taken

  • 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.

  • Badges

    Hanging from their necks,
    belts, or ties, with photo,
    they come from somewhere,
    and have some place to go.

    She sees them bouncing up and down
    the streets, swagging vigor to and fro.
    Sometimes they meet and talk,
    badge to badge, boar to sow.

    She doesn’t get what they say.
    Normally, they just proceed,
    prancing days, romping nights,
    round and round they gambol

    through tunnels of sun
    sounding golden horns,
    steeds indeed, lit up
    in glorious gowns a glut.

    She had one once, but let go,
    repeating the hollow phrase,
    preferring not to be badgered,
    “And that has made all the difference.”

    Badge