Creative insight
Inspiration
is the breath
of the imagination
a temporal
spatial incident
that alters
the universe
beyond repair
John Lyons
poetry
Winter reverie
Winter reverie
Think of summer
of lavender
and thistledown
floating in the air
of martens feeding
on the wing
of trout rising
in the clear waters
and the taste
of honey fresh
from the comb
with scones
and clotted cream
days of plenty
nights of love
everlasting
John Lyons
Meander
Meander
Words that live
in the imagination
the blue sense of sky
and a rose
the colour of love
naked jubilation
and the day’s first kiss :
he draws a bow
across a set of strings
and a chord is struck
in the heart
where affections
are scaled
day by day
Misfortune is love
misplaced
or that fails
to draw breath
a bluebird flitting
from branch to branch
must mean something
even though its shy song
is rarely heard in full
time and cinders
treat with contempt
there is only one story
live it be it
and never say die
John Lyons
Quizzical
Quizzical
You would
not expect
a dog
to have
an opinion
would you ?
John Lyons
Acrobatics
Acrobatics
When I think of Pollock’s
‘Number One’ I think
of Frank O’Hara’s digression
________________________
both are balancing acts
on a tightrope
and in Pollock one sees
the twisted narrative
almost impossible
to unravel as he tiptoes
across the ravine
on a perfect day for it
as Frank writes :
warm for winter
cold for fall—
do you see ?
John Lyons
Sidereal
Sidereal
This morning
light dusting
of snow from
the ice-blue sky
Black crows
passing to and fro
over the roofs
out in one of
the insignificant
suburbs
of the Milky Way
John Lyons
Winter falls
Winter falls
As the train shuddered out
from the shivering metropolis
to the suburbs
he noticed that the frost
was heavier on the grass
and on the brambles
and expecting to see
foxes by the railways track
and seeing none abroad
he thought to himself :
wise old foxes !
John Lyons
Miracle
Miracle
So much depends
upon a primitive heart
a simple pump
with two chambers
a miracle beating
within the universe
of feeling
of love
of poetry
and art
John Lyons
Topology
Topology
She said :
you think
you’re the centre
of the universe
I said : I do
I am
as you are
too
as we are
all
Look around
the landscape
the tall city
the ocean depths :
where do you
imagine
the edge to be ?
All eyes :
tongue
be silent !
John Lyons
Song
Song
To begin a song
a love song
I have only to think
of your eyes
of your lips
of your hair
in the breeze
down by the river
or the grip of your hand
as you take my hand
John Lyons
johnjosephlyons 