by Larry Goodell

How do I touch the spirit which is inviting me
to touch it
as I reach out and it reaches through me
as if passing in the dark, in the light
(and touches someone else).

by Larry Goodell

Arising from the pain into the light of love
the laugh in free heart, the careful ease
of smooth working joints and reliable body.
Sensuous pleasure of just being.

For anyone who likes me
you are my pedigree
the stilts that support me.
Whether good or bad
you are the me that was me.

Rage against the robbing of delight
I hold these truths to be imaginable
all people are created for equality
to keep their church separate from state
of the state separate from any church.

What is the text of sleep
some mouths are thick lipped
and linger long in love.

by Larry Goodell

Sweet flower of transformative light
as I get down on my knees bent hurting
to get my nose competing with bees to smell you
and stand, no need to kneel —
the aromas are wafting everywhere.

by Jerome Rothenberg

from A Book of Circles
for Arie Galles

TO DREAM INFINITY

1/
To dream
infinity
& know the time
draws nigh
never more near
than now

2/
the far look
of an ancient
god
his hands
ready to bring us
down

3/
there is
no end to it
the universe
escapes us
& another universe
takes shape

4/
open & shut
absent
a god
whose malice
holds us
too close

5/
still to be
free & clear
the deeper
image
out of our beck
& call

6/
seeing the others
fallen
entering the pitch
& blackness
figments of an endless
mindless world

7/
the beauty
of the neverending
freezes us
more spectral
than a dream

8/
how many circles
make up a universe
if only the eye
allows it?
nothing that the mind
can know or tell

one
two
three
four
five
wild circles