Mnemonic Devices
"Poetic memos" on reading, contemplation, reverie, odd experiential moments, after the manner of Evan Connell and Joycean epiphany, without too much regard for quality but rather a free verse poeticizing, perhaps to be refashioned later.
 
I.
startled breath
under cover of darkness
they held out to you
their
one last hope
gold fines sieved through sand
held fast the
tarnished brilliance
of sunlight
knotted up in
an old prospector's
handkerchief
and bartered here,
past City Gate,
bread, fish, wine.
II.
no contest as to
which one of us will
pass from this realm
the first
or second
time around, hearing again
only buzz of
insect, creatures of a day
the dusk come
crashing down,
our moonlighted discourse.
III.
a sky full of stars -
buckets of stars!
and I with
upturned face -
a mouthful of stars!
stood waiting
felt your hand in mine
moonlight and stars'
appointed way returns us
narrower than road
or path a
razor's edge
of uncertainty
a house of wind
that a breath effaced.
IV.
the night sky bejeweled -
Venus, brilliant just off the
lower horn of a crescent moon,
rare conjunction silvery brooch
obscured by clouds
the next night and the next
bringing us promptly to this moment -
conch, agate, jasper.
V.
Blue flame of jasper against the grinding stone.
VI.
This earth, a center,
This house a discrete
bowl of relations.
This body, whole and harmonious,
bodies forth.
VII.
True earth
True intent
True lead
True sense
True mercury
Spiritual essence.
Primordial, complete
Without defect.
Yang culminates
Giving rise to Yin
VIII.
Rabbit in the moon.
Raven in the sun.
Chinese alchemical
shorthand for androgyny.
IX.
The horror of discursive thinking.
The ten thousand things
in their evil aspect.
X.
The old king rises up from his sickbed on one elbow and looks out at this latest arrival. How weary he is of these impetuous seekers after glory, foppish young men forever showing up at his door step mouthing their nonsense about kings and round tables, grails and quests, men with preposterous names like Sagramore and Galahad and Colgrevance.
This one is named Gawain.
XI.
Shadowy chastisement
XII.
Food Offering
"Yeah, I think there's one piece of chicken left here you want it?" Greasy chicken leg comes after earlier proffer of fried tatters-in-skins which I ate with relish from Larry's gift bestowing hands. Sinking my teeth into tender cooked chicken flesh, bread breakers we, com-panions, work almost done and it's been a full day.
XIII.
Blue Ball Blues
Third night of delights
No consummation
Hand travels down curve of back
To smoothness of buttock and thigh
Enter
When?
Legs crossed,
Pubic hairs peep,
Pull her
Belly soft
Against
Aching cock
"Soon"
XIV.
"Therefore, concerning that which is produced by Nature becoming useful to mankind, whosoever brings it in to that condition which was ordained by Nature is an alchemist, however dull and unskilled otherwise he may be, even he who turns a raw sheep skin into a fur coat. Therefore there is no art without alchemy."
Martin Ruland, Lexicon of Alchemy
XV.
Man of Tao - Zen.
Appears to do nothing but accomplishes all things.
Accomplishes all things yet
leaves no trace of his activities.
In the end, the cost of ones upkeep will be exacted.
Have nothing further to seek!