round about and forward so
travelers went to and fro
night welcomed sleep so tired
days sunlight has expired

long bough and twig withered
in silence beleaguered
stone rock, hardened clay
water is the decay
stamped out by marching
paths enticing relay

back around and forward ho
taken what is lacked
blossoms petals flower hills
meadow passionate thrills
solemn guided, quills inked
ponderosa piney green

tales of long ago eyes winked
old hoary beard spoke of age

back about and forward round
night collapsed on the day
darkness couldn’t escape the moon
beams stark lighting up craggy face
a shooting star lit the fire
milky way sky was grace

a great bear would be espying
see a bee’s swarm hiding
Orion’s belt wraps up the sky
roots of stars carry honey jars
the water flows only to dry

tales spoken of long ago
words written in the stone
pictures of ancient truths
to behold
the bough broken
searchers trampled mud

forward bout and bent around
the babes of seas are born
swimming out of dreams
like waves awash
forest pines and grasses long
petals flourished in the dew

flowers of perfumed glory
the fragrant aroma
whispered into a nose
like incense burnt
into the air exhaled
out of a sigh that wailed

the ancient ones forgot their
dreaming veils

round about

© 2003 CJ Clark
All Rights Reserved