Variations

Variations

on both Kenneth Kock

and William Carlos Williams

1

I chopped at the neighbours’ feijoa hedge which he lets grow tall.

I am sorry, I have the worse view now

and he’ll have little fruit this summer.

2

I peered at the creeping ivy growing at the hedge roots and now climbing through the fence.

I ask no forgiveness . There was nothing left to do but take a leaf

out of Kenneth Kocks’ book and spray.

3

It cost me a lot of money to transport the cut branches but waste management obliged.

I’d cut a good two thirds of that overgrown hedge. It kept

the sun from my driveway; made the place cold.

4

Later that month the neighbour began throwing all his other yard waste where once

grew a hedge and creeping ivy. As summer wears on it smells the more. Forgive me,

I have no answer to this. I can no longer afford to take his waste to the dump.

 

Benita H. Kape (c) 23.11.2019

 

Imitation Practice

Imitation for Frank

For d/verse today we are to imitate a poet or a form. One form, two poets for me today. Apparently Kenneth Kock studied, and I believe parodied WCW, but other than this one I’ve yet to find another one of his. Not that I know much of Kenneth Kock. But who of us do not know the Plums in the fridge? I’ll give you the first stanza only of the Kenneth Kock parody which is titled “Variations of a Theme by William Carlos Williams.”

I chopped down the house that you had been saving to live in next summer. I am sorry, but it was morning, I had nothing to do and its wooden beams were so inviting.

I must say the hedge and the creeping ivy is inviting but I don’t really want to fall out with the neighbour. The hedge will be trimmed a little before Christmas.

 

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At the Beach Atop a Pole

At the Beach Atop a Pole

The Osprey, nesting,

cracked on creatively.

Built her nest

in rare remove

atop a high pole

made to hold

street lights

near the beach.

 

See her muddle

of cracked and sturdy

twigs: the chick

lording it –

going truly crackers

at whoever comes near.

Benita H. Kape (c) 19.11.2019

My daughter noticing the nest came closer to take a photo and the chick had plenty to say about her invasion of space.

This is written for –

Quadrille #92: Take a crack at poeming.

It’s Been My Annus Horribillis

retorts a poem written on the thirteenth day

of the penultimate day of the month:

feeling fine, feeling remarkably fine

and I’m trying for a re-birth

at what should be, probably is:

close to the end of a reasonably long life.

 

Earlier in the year an attempt was made

to insert a stent to my heart. Thinking one,

they found two, the more recent

quiet small: and dealt to it: went on

to the larger one. The patient (myself)

watched them as they worked. And

then the nurse leaves her monitor duties

and comes to my side.

 

I have little recall of her words

so soon, as they say, I was out

like a light; inserting wires had

snapped, not once but twice.

There followed an emergency retrieval.

 

Next morning the little surgeon

came to my bedside; and said

“I may never touch you again.”

And though I struggled with

that deep cobbled wound in the groin and what

is called “referred pain” in my shoulder:

(strange as that may seem.)               I’d

screamed and moaned. And later

I would think “And maybe I just

will not let you touch me again.”

But I’m determined and I’m hopeful.

I live in hope.

 

I am determined

to heal, alter diet, exercise.

I don’t regard myself as desperate;

but I’ve heard of vegan miracles.

Each day I chip away

at what I regard as my re-birth.

How far will I get! Only time will tell.

This is the pen and the thoughts

of a forever optimist.

 

It’s near the end of the year.

A new year is waiting to be born;

feeling fine; feeling remarkably fine;

metaphorically young in heart & mind,

I’m working on some re-birth.

Benita H. Kape (c) 13.11.2019

This poem is shared in dVerse  https://dversepoets.com/ Amaya hosting has requested poems on the subject of birth.

Birth of a Summer Poem

This poem is shared in dVerse  https://dversepoets.com/ Amaya hosting has requested poems on the subject of birth.

 

 

 

 

More Meningitis Moments

 

Keep smiling darling

though bereft of two finger tips

per hand today;

and toes!

Haven’t yet been given

the count. Keep smiling darling.

These past months so difficult

and still you keep smiling.

‘Tis your nature and always was.

The nature of an optimist.

Benita H. Kape 6.11.2019

 

This Quadrille #91 “Keep”  is for my daughter who has been so brave and it was heartbreaking waiting to see how much would be amputated. Feet still heavily bandaged but last evening when visited she was in very good spirits. She’s so special and the true optimist. I delivered her myself when she was born; but hey that’s a whole other story.

Cat and Sun

Cat in afternoon sun on her/my bed

Cat and Sun

You stretch

in a patch

of morning sun.

 

Nothing disturbs you;

pretending to sleep.

 

As the sun shifts

so shift you.

 

Earlier,

on one side of the mat

now on the other.

 

Back on the chair

You chase your shadow.

 

Benita H. Kape (c) 17.7.2019

Languid even when chasing shadows