Poem of the Month – June 2022 – Maria Vouis

The Poem of the Month for June 2022, selected by 2022 Anthology Editors, Veronica and David Cookson, is Greece – A Quintet by Maria Vouis. The commended poems for June are Life by Martin Christmas and Song of the Turbines by Stef Rozitis.


Greece – A Quintet
Maria Vouis

jade, turquoise, lapis
ganglia of trembling light
the ocean of Greece

sap of cypress pine
redolent glue on fingers
scent travels with me

goat-bell sonata
a jingling scale, up, then down
the clef of Mount Athos

a clutch of nuns chant
vespers in lengthening light
Saint Nicholaos

twist of olive trees
ancient clan at day’s dissolve
twine roots, hum language


Life
Martin Christmas

What is Life?

Life is the morning air
the breeze, the wind.

Life is everywhere, nowhere.
The invisible quality
that says, ‘Hey, I’m alive!’

Life is that little spark in each of us.
It makes us tick
and move, and speak.
It makes us laugh
and shout in anger,
and cry.

Life is the breath
that rustles through the grass
and scampers in the mist.
The crystal dewdrop hanging
from the twig and shimmering in
the morning sun.

Life is also a park bench.
The hotel sleazy room.
The orphanage.
Life is two edged,
that’s the way it is.

Life?

Either way,
try living without it.


Song of the Turbines
Stef Rozitis

Ssssh
Whist, wish, whisper, whither, weir, weird
wind power: hour by hour by hour,
farce, fast, darts, does, hearts, harsh,
starts…ssssh…softer…deeper shiver

whisper, turn
turn and turn not burn
(fuels, fools, tools, drooler, not cool BUT)
ssssheer, clear, dear, how queer,
how near, how sheer shadow save….or
not fear
….favour

whist, wish, whist, wish, wispy willow.
wisps of wish of win of wish
of windmill hopes (we were on the ropes,
the tropes, the slippery slopes/soaps)

whist, wish, whisper, whither, weir weird
change of gear
sssh we will survive
my dear.


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