Poems & poem-like things – Page 2

April 19, 2024 by Dave Bonta

White phosphorous

Among my workmen and then to the office, and after that dined with Sir W. Batten, and then home, where Sir W. Warren came, and I took him and Mr. Shepley and Moore with me to the Mitre, and there I cleared with Warren for the deals I bought lately for my Lord of him, and he went away, and we staid afterwards a good while and talked, and so parted, it being so foul that I could not go to Whitehall to see the Knights of the Bath made to-day, which do trouble me mightily. So home, and having staid awhile till Will came in (with whom I was vexed for staying abroad), he comes and then I went by water to my father’s, and then after supper to bed with my wife.

a red war went white
to see the night

and who I was abroad
comes to bed

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Friday 19 April 1661.

April 18, 2024 by Luisa A. Igloria

Perpetual Use

river in November light between bare woods and mountain

I dream I no longer keep
presents for use at a better time.

When the tree bows low 
with persimmons, I eat 

and am grateful.
When the fig yields sweet

purple fruit, I pick
and am overcome 

with their unashamed 
tenderness. I no longer feel

sorry for rooms with too many 
unread books, the silence 

of needles with no mending, 
dry buds of tea 

waiting to blossom 
in the perfect cup of hot water. 

The river flecks with foam, 
and the sun wears the halo

of centuries. I take 
a book in my hand and slide

it under my pillow where it will open
to dream after dream after dream.

April 18, 2024 by Dave Bonta

Miracle speech

Up with my workmen and then about 9 o’clock took horse with both the Sir Williams for Walthamstow, and there we found my Lady and her daughters all.
And a pleasant day it was, and all things else, but that my Lady was in a bad mood, which we were troubled at, and had she been noble she would not have been so with her servants, when we came thither, and this Sir W. Pen took notice of, as well as I. After dinner we all went to the Church stile, and there eat and drank, and I was as merry as I could counterfeit myself to be. Then, it raining hard, we left Sir W. Batten, and we two returned and called at Mr. –- and drank some brave wine there, and then homewards again and in our way met with two country fellows upon one horse, which I did, without much ado, give the way to, but Sir W. Pen would not, but struck them and they him, and so passed away, but they giving him some high words, he went back again and struck them off their horse, in a simple fury, and without much honour, in my mind, and so came away.
Home, and I sat with him a good while talking, and then home and to bed.

with my workhorse
a thin pen

I counterfeit myself
rain turned wine

giving high words
a simple home

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Thursday 18 April 1661.

April 18, 2024 by Dave Bonta

War in love-time

By land and saw the arches, which are now almost done and are very fine, and I saw the picture of the ships and other things this morning, set up before the East Indy House, which are well done. So to the office, and that being done I went to dinner with Sir W. Batten, and then home to my workmen, and saw them go on with great content to me. Then comes Mr. Allen of Chatham, and I took him to the Mitre and there did drink with him, and did get of him the song that pleased me so well there the other day, “Of Shitten come Shites the beginning of love.”
His daughters are to come to town to-morrow, but I know not whether I shall see them or no. That done I went to the Dolphin by appointment and there I met Sir Wms. both and Mr. Castle, and did eat a barrel of oysters and two lobsters, which I did give them, and were very merry.
Here we had great talk of Mr. Warren’s being knighted by the King, and Sir W. B. seemed to be very much incensed against him.
So home.

no one saw us in my tent
at the beginning of love

tomorrow shall see no one
in a castle of two

and here we talk of war
benighted
incensed

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Wednesday 17 April 1661.

April 17, 2024 by Luisa A. Igloria

Aster

September flower, spiked white 
wood or billowy lavender aster—

pearl crescents, monarchs, and 
golden moths come to feed 

as if worshipping where you cluster. 
There is a first star, a morning and 

evening star, a star for every event
in the zodiac; and there is one of sudden 

or ruinous nature, one which falls out 
of lucky alignment. A crossed star, dis-

possessed of favor or fortune. Tell
me, which one stood watch or 

crowned me at birth; which one offered
its distant light like a godmother?

April 16, 2024 by Dave Bonta

Wayfarer

So soon as word was brought me that Mr. Coventry was come with the barge to the Tower, I went to him, and found him reading of the Psalms in short hand (which he is now busy about), and had good sport about the long marks that are made there for sentences in divinity, which he is never like to make use of. Here he and I sat till the Comptroller came and then we put off for Deptford, where we went on board the King’s pleasure boat that Commissioner Pett is making, and indeed it will be a most pretty thing.
From thence to Commr. Pett’s lodging, and there had a good breakfast, and in came the two Sir Wms. from Walthamstow, and so we sat down and did a great deal of public business about the fitting of the fleet that is now going out.
That done we went to the Globe and there had a good dinner, and by and by took barge again and so home. By the way they would have me sing, which I did to Mr. Coventry, who went up to Sir William Batten’s, and there we staid and talked a good while, and then broke up and I home, and then to my father’s and there lay with my wife.

a word brought me
to a long sentence

like a boat going out
a good way

to try who I am
at home with my wife

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Tuesday 16 April 1661.

April 16, 2024April 15, 2024 by Luisa A. Igloria

Weather Advisory

Tonight there’s a thunderstorm warning—
chance of hail and rising wind, though all day
generous sunlight winnowed through 
impossible blue. On my weather app

I track what mornings and evenings 
are like in other cities of the world—
Charlottesville, Raleigh; Chicago, Baguio,
Manila. I can imagine how light breaks

where my loves lie, perhaps in bed.
Perhaps they look out a window, streaked
rust-orange as a rooster’s crest. If someone has
discovered the secret to being in more than one

place without breaking, I would like to know it.
I would like to walk in a soft, forgiving rain.

April 15, 2024 by Luisa A. Igloria

Another Dream, Promising Your Return

I dream that preparations are underway
for your arrival. It feels so imminent
and so real, in the dream I completely forget
that it is a dream. Thunder sounds on the rim
of hills surrounding the town. The sky
gradually darkens, but inside, the house is warm
and filling with fragrant clouds of steam 
from gingery broth and white rice. The table
has been wiped clean and even the neighbors
have come to set the table: good plates
and silverware, tulips in a glass pitcher.
The stove holds a corona of flame in each
burner, and the kettle whispers: any time 
now, any time now, any time now.

April 15, 2024 by Dave Bonta

Wind proof

From my father’s, it being a very foul morning for the King and Lords to go to Windsor, I went to the office and there met Mr. Coventry and Sir Robt. Slingsby, but did no business, but only appoint to go to Deptford together tomorrow. Mr. Coventry being gone, and I having at home laid up 200l. which I had brought this morning home from Alderman Backwell’s, I went home by coach with Sir R. Slingsby and dined with him, and had a very good dinner. His lady seems a good woman and very desirous they were to hear this noon by the post how the election has gone at Newcastle, wherein he is concerned, but the letters are not come yet.
To my uncle Wight’s, and after a little stay with them he and I to Mr. Rawlinson’s, and there staid all the afternoon, it being very foul, and had a little talk with him what good I might make of these ships that go to Portugal by venturing some money by them, and he will give me an answer to it shortly. So home and sent for the Barber, and after that to bed.

the wind and I go
together one morning

into a castle
venturing

some money will give me
an answer to home

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Monday 15 April 1661.

April 14, 2024 by Dave Bonta

Mare Imbrium

(Easter. Lord’s day). In the morning towards my father’s, and by the way heard Mr. Jacomb, at Ludgate, upon these words, “Christ loved you and therefore let us love one another,” and made a lazy sermon, like a Presbyterian. Then to my father’s and dined there, and Dr. Fairbrother (lately come to town) with us. After dinner I went to the Temple and there heard Dr. Griffith, a good sermon for the day; so with Mr. Moore (whom I met there) to my Lord’s, and there he shewed me a copy of my Lord Chancellor’s patent for Earl, and I read the preamble, which is very short, modest, and good.
Here my Lord saw us and spoke to me about getting Mr. Moore to come and govern his house while he goes to sea, which I promised him to do and did afterwards speak to Mr. Moore, and he is willing.
Then hearing that Mr. Barnwell was come, with some of my Lord’s little children, yesterday to town, to see the Coronacion, I went and found them at the Goat, at Charing Cross, and there I went and drank with them a good while, whom I found in very good health and very merry. Then to my father’s, and after supper seemed willing to go home, and my wife seeming to be so too I went away in a discontent, but she, poor wretch, followed me as far in the rain and dark as Fleet Bridge to fetch me back again, and so I did, and lay with her to-night, which I have not done these eight or ten days before.

words love one another
like fathers
who go to sea

or little children
who heal
in the rain

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Sunday 14 April 1661.