Art: Even the hills became sacred clowns by Alex Duensing

SWING

these details only important to the man 
trying to remember what light, river, hollow sound
as if there was space for this
 
these details only important to the man
the scarf is extraneous, her daughter’s back
as if there was space for this 
might be pushing away or pulling toward, yellowing
 
the scarf is extraneous, her daughter’s back
glowing, the greatest cliché, a most complete circle
might be pushing away or pulling toward, yellowing 
the sequence falling out of order, trees lining up
 
glowing, the greatest cliché, a most complete circle
counting the swings into afternoon
the sequence falling out of order, trees lining up
the man sees this, trying to hold the presence
 
counting the swings into afternoon
the scarf blowing outward and over, edges singeing
the man sees this, trying to hold the presence
blue not being in her mind nor the trees nor the man
 
the scarf blowing outward and over, edges singeing
the woman is stepping further inside, stopping, an impulse
blue not being in her mind nor the trees nor the man
and it is all becoming the red flower blossoming

About the author:

Working loosely in the experimental/ language/Black Mountain/ NY School traditions, Heidi A. Howell has published poems in online and print literary magazines, including s/word, Psychic Meatloaf, The Eastern Iowa Review, Otoliths, la fovea, What Light, So To Speak: A Feminist Journal of Language and Art, and the Washington Review, which nominated her work for a Pushcart. She holds an MFA from George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.
Art: Even the hills became sacred clowns by Alex Duensing
In the artist’s words:
Alex Duensing. Graduate of William Paterson and Columbia? Yes. Ran for St. Petersburg, FL City Council? Yes. Won? No. Stopped Mayan Apocalypse on rooftop with performance art? Yup. Strange but nice fellow? Clearly. Able to create mechanical engines that run completely on the energy a person creates while appreciating a painting? On occasion.