Singing

Singing

Only with rhythms of salmon

          slapping at waterfalls

     at noonday can our voices

alert some drum major

or do what the marigold wants

and teach us about sad crows

     shifting beak to groom

     white mites without

alms for two. Can we believe

that amongst flung plumes dots

     of purple like blood on staves

will sprinkle like claret on sand

or are our superstars not giants

just jamming for their savings.

[sonnet]

Singing

Only with the rhythm of salmon

          slapping at waterfalls

     at noonday can our voices,

alert like some drum major's,

do what the marigold wants:

     to teach us about sad crows'

     songs: 'Shift beak to groom

     only white mites without

an arm or two.' Who can believe

that amongst flung plumes, dots

     of purple like blood on staves

can sprinkle like claret on sand?

Your superstars aren't giants

          jamming for their savings.

[first version]