March 8, 2014

South Fork by David Chorlton


Shadows cast by the canyon
wall rest lightly upon us
as we carry them past lichen textures,
pink stones and charcoal, and underneath
the airy crowns the pines
have raised above the sycamore
where we stop to look up at rocks
the colour of the fire
that came here three summers
ago. Stepping over fallen oak
along the trail, heads cocked
streamside to listen for a call
above the rustling water, we crane
our necks to follow
a hermit thrush ascending branch
by branch until the cliff tops flare
behind it at the point the Earth's weight
erodes into clear sky.




David Chorlton came to Arizona in 1978 after living in England and Austria. He led a double life as a poet and visual artist for the next two decades or so, with shows that included a one-man exhibition at the Chandler Center for the Arts. His poetry has been published in magazines and books, the latest of which is The Devil's Sonata from FurtureCycle Press in 2012.

1 comment:

  1. I always enjoy your poetry, David.

    Thank you for this gorgeous poem.

    Mary Jo Balistreri

    ReplyDelete