Joanne Kyger
The first edition of Joanne Kyger’s About Now, her collected poems, was published in 2007 by The National Poetry Foundation, Orono, Maine. Born in Vallejo, California, a long time resident of the San Francisco area, she has lived and worked in Bolinas, since the 1970s.
We Are
by Bertie Koller
are the people we know
the people we’ve always known
as through this life & others
our spirits are blown
or are we all strangers
standing around a great fire
for one chance at this
before we retire
we are we are we are
oh yes we are
are the people we’ve known
the people we know
as through this life & others
we continue to grow
or do we live only
for our turn to die
for glory beyond
& pie in the sky
we are we are we are
oh yes we are
We Are Falling
by Bertie Koller
we are falling to pieces
like rain to the ground
following our rivers
wherever they are bound
we are falling in love
like tears of stone
the scars of the heart
know nothing of bone
we are falling forever
as once we did rise
the moon & the stars
the sun in our eyes
we are falling in love
like coins down a well
we strike the bottom
ringing out like bells
we are falling to pieces
like wood burned to ash
somewhere in the flame
we buried our past
So Simple
by Bertie Koller
I cannot understand
what I cannot believe
nor can I change
what I will not let be
there’s nothing so simple
as the circling sun
yet who circles who
when it’s said & done
I cannot obey
what breaks but won’t bend
nor can I challenge
what I will not defend
there’s nothing so simple
as nothing at all
yet how big is nothing
or is it small

