Progymnasmata

This poem was written for the Picture Poetry Contest. It is a response to this image:



Transparency

The sun behind the stones,
The people in the crag,
His hands in his pockets,
Her hands behind her gown.

We hide what we can see:
These people, the earth, and me.

The sun behind the clouds,
The rain sounds on our roof,
My two girls watch Dora,
My wife is on the phone.

We hide what we can see:
These people, the earth, and me.

Shadows lap the fissures,
And boarders crop the trees,
The viewer is a ghost.
The river runs below.

We hide what we can see:
These people, the earth, and me.

Dinner on the table,
I whisper "thanks" alone,
Then say "thanks" out loud
For true transparency.

We hide what we can see:
These people, the earth, and me.