When I was a Child
I decided to be an Artist
so I could paint paintings
to hang in My Own House —
I would have My Own Art
surrounding Me as I have now
with The Sea, The Sky & Sounds of Birds
–
I am wearing My Purple Robe
out on The Deck on a grey day —
dry & still — I hear The Waves
& drink My Tea
thinking of My Full Self
& The Flies that buzz
around Me
I see My Neighbour’s Flag
luffing in the nil wind
smack-dab on the horizon
grey mixed with sky grey
–
It’s still hear-here
I hear The Waves
& birdsong in the distance
The Flag luffs
back & forth
My Daughter comes downstairs
brushing Her Teeth
before getting picked up
in a big black pick-up truck
The Hawk Kitchen 9:22am
I Love My House
I am private here
public when I wanna be
I can have rye toast & marmalade
when Eliza takes the last banana
I can hang laundry in The Sun
& keep My Bathrobe on
The Hawk Deck 6:55pm
I looked for a rainbow today —
the conditions seemed ripe for one —
all I got to see
was a pink sky in The East
after supper
a grey sky & salmon clouds
I wondered if I
might be in one
Two Fall Leaves
make like Butterflies
across My Neighbour’s Lawn
Where Did They Come From?
He’s got the only deciduous tree
around Here
& It hasn’t turned
Yet
Out Beyond My Neighbour’s Flagpole
I See An Individual Wave Cresting
I See It Before I Hear It
& Then In The Calm
It Rolls My Way
The Hawk Deck 6:42pm
What is It that makes A Poem?
Is It the induction of waves
louder now than usual —
or is It a lost conversation
with a Siamese cat named Moulan
(Who seemed to be listening too)
or is It a reminder
when eating canned peaches
that I made a giant sculpture once
“Peaches & Blades”
going floor to ceiling
filling the lobby of Cooper Union’s 4th floor?
Is this A Poem?
The Hawk Living Room 4:35pm
I wrote a poem
in the 3rd grade
inspired by the movie
“Ring Of Bright Water”
which was the only movie
I had seen besides
“The Sound Of Music”
— The Poem hasn’t survived
but I remember being captivated
by The Sparkles In The Sun
to write My Last Line:
“for the beautiful scene had just begun”
Joanna Gilman Hyde 