Amused Medusa

(A study on youthful beauty)

It’s the way she turns

that paralyzes me,

such subtle movement

subconsciously

mercury sleek, languid,

torturing me

for straying too close

to her hypnotic

shimmering curves.

With a near imperceptible

breath of a tremble,

slim balletic muscles form

to ripple lithely, trilling

through those perpetual lines,

long

body perfect

sand dunes,

elongated,

lightly swept

no sculptor’s hand

could fashion finer,

eyes granite

lips porcelain

breasts marble

sex chalk,

each curve and fissure

set fair,

secrets kept.

© Graham Sherwood 03/2016

Koan on nature

(Just look up)

Compare the beauty
of the oceans, mountains
and the clouds.
Each cast their spell
to fix our eyes, slow our breath
and weigh our jaws,
but does either have a master?




© Graham Sherwood 03/2016

Haiku on Juliet

(Naivety of the young)

the beauty of youth
such a resplendent flower
obliviously


© Graham Sherwood 03/2016

Plane

(Common senses)

We are constant beings
most of us,
steady of eye
of heart of custom
so we fear.
Memories gild
our lack of bravery,
those important
recollections
that keep us warm,
safely constant
and afraid.
We become friends
with fear,
clasp hands with death
itself, go quietly
resolved
but ever constant.


© Graham Sherwood 03/2015

Crem Trio

I’ll lead you in
with Miserere
soaring trebles
to bend your heads
tingling hairs
you are supposed
to be sad to see me go.

In reverie
the cello and the harp
thistle and the rose,
here’s where you cry,
not for me
the music you fool,
blink quickly
curse me slowly.

As you shuffle out
glad its over,
just the awkward
shake of hands to go,
I’ll hang back
alone
to catch the strumming
chords on
Hergest Ridge.


Graham Sherwood 03/2015