Little Pulses in a Sabbath Afternoon after Church—

Helen Not Knowing Any Better Gets Some Rest

Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem

A belfry or a

Steeple Without a bell spreads

Peace by citrus groves.

~ Shiki [Englished by Phillip Whidden]

A certain comfort settles in when leaves,

The young ones, chant their silence as a psalm

Behind the white wood house.  The grove achieves

A meditation near where palm

Spreads . . . out . . . one . . . frond . . . to signal that its arc

Encompasses the calm of afternoon

Behind the naps of boys where dreams embark

On journeys to an icy Saturn moon,

Escaping sweat in T-shirts from the heat

That Florida imposes.  Maybe twitch

Of eyelid means a brief composer’s suite

Is forming—till a finger scratches itch.

  Four boys are boys.  Cocoons are peace till men

    Escape kids’ sleeping shells in strained Amen.

© Phillip Whidden