***
Some Red Leaves
Kasen Renku
(Started on September 22, 2005 – Completed … )
Front
some red leaves
and a few grey hairs— John Stevenson
weekend guests
moonlight through
the empty merry-go-round Ion Codrescu
I wear a dress
that smells of camphor Fusako Matano
this chilly morning
the old library
waxed and squeaky Daniel Py
a worm wriggling
this way Gabriel Rosenstock
and that
dark computer
during his midday nap Dominique Chipot
First Back
the sentry recognizes
a drunken soldier John
as a friend
old love song
by a new artist Ion
I polished my father’s shoes
he chose Fusako
another pair
this bike’s tyres
need air Daniel
evenly dispersed . . .
sesame seeds Gabriel
on the bread’s crust
high tide,
pebbles banging together Dominique
is that the moon
or a snowball John
about to hit me?
this morning no cat
by the fireplace Ion
completed project
the collaborators Fusako
can laugh again
we liked it so much
we want to go back! Daniel
blossoms . . . blossoms . . .
half of them Gabriel
in the mind
in the evening the bee
still charged with pollen Dominique
Second Front
first fine days
everywhere in the city Dominique
Public Works
Saddam’s face on tv
weary Gabriel
the sound of footsteps
reverberating Daniel
down the corridor
lost luggage
in a vast airport Fusako
the calligrapher
asks us to think of Ion
the waterfall
the thunderhead
roils, boils, and rises John
to remove from shoes
the dust of the town Dominique
with a cloth
invitation to a dull occasion—
but she’ll be there! Gabriel
(…)
°°°