Frank G. Karioris
Chicago: a friend’s moving
1
This patio, where many joyous times were had,
these will be the last of them.
This patio, where many joyous times were had,
these will be the last of them.
As usual, a beer from nearby with its strong
notes of city air, dust, and fragrant joy.
notes of city air, dust, and fragrant joy.
It’s sad, in a way, the reason to be here this time,
yes, but joyful to be here for it nonetheless.
yes, but joyful to be here for it nonetheless.
This is the city, the leaves are just beginning to fall,
and you arrive just in time for a drink.
and you arrive just in time for a drink.
2
The little spinners fall from the tree
making dings, the sound, off the car siding.
The little spinners fall from the tree
making dings, the sound, off the car siding.
Two men unloading to move in, from a small bus parked at the end of the block
in a tow zone, with the phrase ‘3rd and Short’ written on the back overdoorway.
in a tow zone, with the phrase ‘3rd and Short’ written on the back overdoorway.
Traffic a steady pace at this hour in the morning,
a steady but uneven metronome playing the leitmotifs of the day to come.
3
Fly, aspidistra
as new place takes shape
Fly, aspidistra
as new place takes shape
as room comes into being
as a home is begun.
as boxes are unpacked & unmade
as a home is begun.
as boxes are unpacked & unmade
as frames go up the walls
as space joins in with new movements.
as water to roots & leaves to sky.
as space joins in with new movements.
as water to roots & leaves to sky.
Fly, aspidistra.
Books // another’s library
Books remembered as things past,
artifacts of life lived,
far afield
artifacts of life lived,
far afield
From Westward winds that sting
& play on the corner,
games & cards & chords.
& play on the corner,
games & cards & chords.
Each one held holds onto a hand
in the dark of long ago,
outstretched it goes,
in the dark of long ago,
outstretched it goes,
The tradition speaks in frocks & flowers
with humble honeycombs keeping
residence on Earth.
with humble honeycombs keeping
residence on Earth.
With that she entered to leave tomorrow,
denizens of another time & place,
here they stay.
denizens of another time & place,
here they stay.
That they’d kept in touch over letters & phone
meant not enough to keep them
from being alone.
meant not enough to keep them
from being alone.
Yet there he stood at the door opened wide
waiting still here to find something
in pages marked before.
waiting still here to find something
in pages marked before.
Landscapes, pt 4
Kousa dogwood berries smashed on the sidewalk,
Their orange pink skins, profused with greyed small openings,
It’s blazingly white flowers contrasted sitting overhead the hanging fruit.
Between a raspberry & cherry, they reminisce of childhood stained hands.
Their orange pink skins, profused with greyed small openings,
It’s blazingly white flowers contrasted sitting overhead the hanging fruit.
Between a raspberry & cherry, they reminisce of childhood stained hands.
The first notice of browned, crunchy leaves underfoot,
The inside of the sidewalk becomes their abode.
The inside of the sidewalk becomes their abode.
Squeal of track on metal,
Hum of that pushing along
While the bridge sways
slightly up and down
Concrete playing in the wind.
Hum of that pushing along
While the bridge sways
slightly up and down
Concrete playing in the wind.
Russian sage invitingly growing into the sidewalk,
intermingling with the green plant, with yellow & blue round berries.
intermingling with the green plant, with yellow & blue round berries.
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