Alpine Ghazal
When plates shift, we all must dance to their slow music.
The holy high places are laid low - but - oh, music!
I’m calling out, a small thing among these hills:
are you close enough, if you hear, to know music?
Where I grew up, the mountains had imported names.
They knew their older names in winter-snow-music.
You would be salt for the roads, warmth for the journey;
would I be pilgrim enough, though, Music?
I’ll chip away at the rock face, blow by blow
and find - in me - a safe place to stow music.
I have ears, limbs, two good lungs. I have the words!
But Fraser, you risk an avalanche! You must forgo music.
(for a description of the rules of the ghazal form, click here.)
Posted in Poems

June 6th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Man, that is absolutely fantastic. You are nailing these guzzles.
June 6th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Yeah um, at risk of looking like I’m just being polite or something because I say this every time, Fraser, you are a talented creature. Do more of these!
June 7th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Pure magic. You’re gifted, dude.
June 11th, 2008 at 1:06 am
Yes, well done