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last petals blown,
the bergamot leaves still green;
it's scented buttons
still raise the bejewelled
blue bottle's pulse a peg
wizened apples --
a flock of waxwings
titter in the tree
snowmelt drips --
titter of waxwings, car swish
on pavement again
end of semester --
bees hum in apple blossoms
above my straw hat
profligate weeds!
even the dog piss craters sport
dandelion blooms
teeth of the lion --
only the serrated leaves
give a hint
these sunshine buttons
hide paratrooper seeds
pinched nerve --
but lime green leaves
at least relieve
the spectre of blasted
dendrites and ganglia
Richard Stevenson is the author of seventeen full-length collections of poetry, plus a CD
of original jazz and poetry with jazz/poetry troupe Naked Ear, a forthcoming memoir, and a just-released
children's picture book. Recent titles include Live Evil: A Homage To Miles Davis (Thistledown Press, 2000),
Hot Flashes: Maiduguri Haiku, Senryu, and Tanka (Ekstasis Editions, 2001), Take Me To Your Leader!
(YA Verse, Bayeux Arts, 2003), A Charm of Finches ( haiku, senryu, and tanka, Ekstasis Editions, 2004),
and Parrot With Tourette’s (Black Moss Press, Palm Poets series, 2004). A Tidings of Magpies
(more haiku, senryu, and tanka) is also forthcoming from Spotted Cow Press. Richard teaches
Canadian Literature, Creative Writing, Composition, and Business Communication at Lethbridge
Community College in southern Alberta.
Email: Richard Stevenson
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