The sainted wisdom of summer
If you’re sitting under a ficus benjamina
and fine powder falls from above, likely
it’s the work of someone grinding, a recent
squirrel or other miller. Tree berry. If a jay
is crying schyppe on the lawn, it’s different
from when he’s singing schyppe in the tree
because, you can see him. If you watch
the grass with quiet eyes, you may see
it ruffle without benefit of wind. Then
it’s the case of someone may be walking
under the blades. If you hear crickets
in the ivy in the morning, you’ve gotten up
too early; then you are in the blowing time
and wonder of dawn, her blue lamps
just beginning to rise.
Linda Ravenswood is a Poet and Performance artist from Los Angeles. Her work aims towards inquiry and uncovering, holding memory, history, place and lineage as meaningful, and available markers. She is a current nominee for Poet Laureate of Los Angeles 2017.
