Author Archives: tamolantern@gmail.com

Rain Woke up this morning with a terrific urge to lie in bed all day and read. Fought against it for a minute. Then looked out the window at the rain. And gave over. Put myself entirely in the keep of … Continue reading →

How could I have known I would need to remember your laughter, the way it ricocheted — a boomerang flung from your throat, stilling the breathless air. How you were luminous in it. Your smile. Your hair tossed back, flaming. Everyone … Continue reading →

Invictus Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of … Continue reading →

Why I Wake Early   Hello, sun in my face. Hello, you who make the morning and spread it over the fields and into the faces of the tulips and the nodding morning glories, and into the windows of, even, the … Continue reading →

Sowing It was a perfect day For sowing; just As sweet and dry was the ground As tobacco-dust. I tasted deep the hour Between the far Owl’s chuckling first soft cry And the first star. A long stretched hour it … Continue reading →

Under Stars The sleep of this night deepens because I have walked coatless from the house carrying the white envelope. All night it will say one name in its little tin house by the roadside. I have raised the metal … Continue reading →

Tree It is foolish to let a young redwood grow next to a house. Even in this one lifetime, you will have to choose. The great calm being, this clutter of soup pots and books — Already the first branch-tips … Continue reading →

How the Light Comes I cannot tell you how the light comes. What I know is that it is more ancient than imagining. That it travels across an astounding expanse to reach us. That it loves searching out what is … Continue reading →

For the Bird Singing before Dawn Some people presume to be hopeful when there is no evidence for hope, to be happy when there is no cause. Let me say now, I’m with them. In deep darkness on a cold … Continue reading →

Wait Wait, for now. Distrust everything if you have to. But trust the hours. Haven’t they carried you everywhere, up to now? Personal events will become interesting again. Hair will become interesting. Pain will become interesting. Buds that open out … Continue reading →