by Gerald Wagoner
Be precise, elegant, describe forces and vectors.
Learn the arcane alchemy of memory as catalyst
to imagination. The physics of the kinetic require
you announce that windows are ablaze at sunset.
Learn the arcane alchemy of memory as catalyst
to mountain vistas. The sky teaches the listener
to proclaim the windows at sunset ablaze, molten.
The brazen glass of Manhattan’s expansive view
is a mountable vista where sky touches listener
on the shoulder like a beloved brother or sister.
The brazen glass of Manhattan reforms into ten
thousand mirrored skies plainly broken in panes.
On the shoulder like a beloved sister or brother
the gloaming lays chrome on navy harbor water.
A thousand mirrored skies, plainly broken panes,
refract waves of ripe white peaches into clouds.
The gloaming lays chrome on dark harbor water.
Imagination is required for refraction physics to
project crates of ripe white peaches into clouds.
Be precise, elegant, describe forces and vectors.
Gerald Wagoner, author of When Nothing Wild Remains, ( Broadstone Books, 2023), and A Month of Someday, (Indolent Books, 2023)) says his childhood was divided between Eastern Oregon and Cut Bank, Montana, where he was raised under the doctrine of benign neglect. Gerald has a BA in Creative Writing, U of MT 1970, and MFA Sculpture SUNY, Albany. He has lived in Brooklyn, NY, since 1982. He exhibited and taught Art and English for the NYC Department of Education until 2017. Upon retirement he shifted his focus to poetry.
Acknowledgements: 2018: Visiting Poet Residency Brooklyn Navy Yard. 2019, 2021-23: Curator/ host of A Persistence of Cormorants, outdoors reading series by the Gowanus Canal. 2023 April, Poets Afloat Mini-Residency, Waterfront Barge Museum.
Selected Publications: Beltway Quarterly, BigCityLit, Blue Mountain Review, Cathexis Northwest Press, Night Heron Barks, Ocotillo Review, Right Hand Pointing, Maryland Literary Review, Burningword