DO(UGH)GEN : NEWSFLASH

"We" are fortunate to have found - in an old bread-bin -  "INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE FAKER-BAKER". DO(UGH)GEN, as you may well be aware, kneaded to know the TRUTH from an early age. This essay is believed to be from his long-lost work = SHOBOTENZO - thought to have been written in China. While we are not - due to copyright reasons - allowed to reproduce this, the elements are as follows :-

BAKE JUST TO BAKE.

MAKE BREAD IN A ROOM THAT IS WARM IN WINTER, COOL IN SUMMER.

EARLY MORNING IS BEST.

SI(F)T QUIETLY.

DO NOT TAKE A RISE OUT OF FELLOW BAKERS.

RESIST THE KNEAD TO TWIRL A FLOUR.

DO NOT GO OFF HALF-BAKED.

KNEADING (TO KNOW THE TRUTH) IS ESSENTIAL.

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4 POEMS : i.m. Berthe Tawa

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BREATH PERMITTING

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(Typo in poem #5...should read = PERMITTING, not PETMITTING, as printed. i looked at proofs 4 times and did not notice.)

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OVER THE GATE : 7 POEMS : 2013

 

1.

time to sit

to look out the window

listen to music

& read

other people's poems.

 

2.

back to the view

but good to know

it is there

at a turn

the sweep of the bay

the fort

the island

& an ear

for the music.

 

3.

leaves fell

& my girl spoke

of "acorn trees"

would that we were

beating the bounds

with willow wands

& turning stones

we turned on

bands of coloured flax.

 

4.

over a flat roof

the crackling pitch

and melody

of "bricc fair"

 

a phonograph

shadows and bicycles

hoeing the land

gentle furrows

 

the table

in half-light

an evening awash

over stones.

 

5. ribbons (1)

hop-scotch &

long shadows

of her

across tarmac

stoops to pull

at socks

ribbons fall

pattern of

held hair

uncoils.

 

6. ribbons (2)

something to keep

with me

all day

twirling them

around and around

in the pockets

of my coat

red and blue.

 

7. for Larry Eigner

views of the

world close-in

a morning of mists

and chimney-smoke

a poet's plan

to go to Swampscott

& peep over the gate.

 

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Golden GOJI Hermitage - 2nd MAY 2013

 

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