Maude Larke has had publications or awards from the Bird’s Eye reView, the Syracuse Cultural Workers’ Women Artists Datebook, the Morten Clausen Poetry Contest, Naugatuck River Review, Oberon, Doorknobs and Bodypaint, the Society of Southwestern Authors, and Flowers & Vortexes.

WORDS FOR MARK AND JOHNNY IV. WEAVE

from an earthed seed

a pulled bow

unfold and grow

the life of leaves, the life of a melody

expansion arcs

and, richness aiding,

fruit comes to fruition

the seedling finds a tenfold girth

the tune finds a symphony

through the enlacing

of life to life

that beginning gesture out

that seed of movement for the cycle

is carrying the fullest pledge

future brightness hovers there –

but because of soil or love of promise?

does it form the live armature

for a chain of further twines?

does it force the flesh of fruit

To hot-house overreadiness?

twig to branch

bar to page

seed leads so slowly to fruit

that you run the risk

of twisting the bough

when urging it to leaf

holding back but holding true

keeps the bow from skittering

keeps the bough from shriveling

and all while holding true

holding on holds the waiting true,

holding to something that aims you through –

smells of rosin

and of good earth

through which a sprout

of crow’s feet grows –

as earthed seed

and pulled bow,

those beginning gestures down,

rebound in dawnlight

and stitch horizons

graft the stems

coax the sap

give the new plant bloom

Copyright Maude Larke.

Not For Duplication Without Permission.