For Geoffrey Platts


I saw another man walking
And realized it was him
Coming in again
From a long journey
In the mountains
Through the rivers
Without end
To talk to me
As an old friend
Gathers up
And remembers
The summer streams
Wave breaking
Dreams of when
I saw another man walking
On his hands and knees
Just a few words please
To ease this pain
Of too much seeing
Of too much being
Alive in this drifted
Pile of solitary smiles
Sideways glances
Teasing out our motive
But to be so alone
Is a death long suffered
While still thinking
You are alive….


It is only to this earth
that we can return
Trusted paths
Small fires
And a few friends
To fuel the heart
Daughters dance
Wife love
Is all I can defend
As real enough
To defend
To the end
But now I meander
In the margins
Writing a decent word
Or two I suppose
I've learned that much
But I keep listening
For the song
I've been writing all along
At the edge
Waves crash
And erode
The few lines
I can remember


I keep getting up
Sweeping the porch
Watching the wrens
And tend to the wild
Return to trusted words
A few slim volumes
Is sufficient
To find the mountaintop
To walk along rough
Slopes canyon rim
Boulders you could see move
If you watched long enough
And the long line of saguaro
Shadow points
Like a compass
To the orientation
Of the soul


An empty cabin stands
Near the creek
Canyon wren
Asleep above the door
I can't open
Again my friend
You are not here
But for the sounds
Of the creek
The sycamore leaves
Flutter
As another man
Walking now
Greets me
And wants
To show me
More.

Jeffrey Cooper