SHOREBIRDS OF THE SUN

SHOREBIRDS OF THE SUN

A POETRY NOVEL

By Carlyle Kerslake

Blog Poetry Two

.The Eastern Meadowlark

BY THE WESTERN WALL

ZEDEKIAHS QUEEN

IN THE TOMB OF THE KINGS

OTTOMANS AND SULTANS

THE OLD CITY

AND THE DREAMS OF NAPOLEON III

TO AN ARAMAIC WOMAN

UNDER A ROMAN SKYE

CHRIST BELIEVERS

IN THE TIME OF THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES

THE BIBLE

BECAME THE PRIZE

WRAPPED UP IN A CITY ON A HILL

PROTEA FLOWERS AND JERUSALEM

AS VICTORIA SAT ON THE THRONE

AND ALL THE CHILDREN CAME HOME

SEARCHING FOR DAVID

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

FINDING SANCTUARY

ON THE TEMPLE ON THE MOUNT

THESE HILLS OF GOLD AND SILVER

PROPHETS OF THE OLD KINGS

IN THE STONY COUNTRYSIDE

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS AND MARY

IN THE CITY OF DAVID

WHERE EDMOND DE ROTHSCHILD

SEARCHED FOR SOLOMON

AND ALL THE WORLDS AN ARK

SWIMMING IN THE POOL OF BETHESDA

NAKED UNDER THE STARS OF JUPITER

IN THE OLD CITY

PATTERNS AND DEEP ROOTS

IN THE SUMMERTIME

THE CITY IS PINK WITH CLAY

THE COLOUR OF DUSTY ASH

AND OVERHEAD THE EASTERN MEADOWLARKS MIGRATE

SINGING A SONG TO THE ANGELS

IN THE HOLIEST PLACE ON EARTH

WHERE JUDEAN KINGS ONCE STOOD

DAVIDIC DYNASTIES

AND BONFIRES IN EAST JERUSALEM

THIS CITY ISNT LOOKING FOR TOMORROW

ITS SEARCHING ALWAYS FOR GOD

SLAUGHTERING ANIMALS

PRAYING TO IDOLS

PRACTICING MAGIC

800 YEARS BEFORE THE JEW JESUS WAS BORN

CREATING THE CRADLE OF CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION

ON THE WAY TO HIS DEATH

HE IS RISEN AND FREE

AND A PILGRIMAGE TO THE SECOND TEMPLE

IN THE SKYE

A LION AT THE GATE

BEGGARS AND BELIEVERS

BEATEN BY COLLABORATORS

TO ABANDON THE CHRIST

THESE ARE THE THINGS OF THE PAST

A BURDEN TO THE JERUSALEMITES

YET JERUSALEM IS FREE

SAFE

HOLY

FRIENDLY

TROUBLED

AND BURDENED

JERUSALEM COULD BE PARIS

SAYS AN OLD MAN

SITTING IN HIS FRONT YARD

WITH SEVERAL HEAVY LADEN LEMON TREES

THEY DIG FOR THE CHRIST YOU KNOW

BUT HES ALREADY GONE TO HEAVEN

HE LIFTS ONE STONE AND PUTS IT NEATLY DONE

THIS IS THE LAND OF MY FATHER

THIS IS THE LAND OF MY FATHERS MOTHER

THIS IS THE LAND OF MY MOTHER

THIS IS THE LAND OF MY MOTHERS MOTHER

THIS IS THE LAND WHERE THE MAGIC STOOD

THAT MAGIC MAN

JESUS CHRIST

AND THE WIND MOVES THE FRUIT ON THE LEMON TREES

AND IAM TRANSPORTED BACK IN TIME

WATCHING A MAN ON A HILL PREACH

AND AS IT ENDED

HE SAID TELL THE PEOPLE

THAT IAM CHRIST

THAT I HAVE COME

A LONG WAY FROM MY HOME

SO THEY MAY HEAR THE WORDS OF THERE FATHER IN HEAVEN

AND THE CROWDS GREW AND GREW

AND GREW

EVERYDAY

MORE AND MORE PEOPLE CAME

AS THE MAN CAME TO THE MOUNT

TO PREACH A SERMON ON THE MOUNT

WHOS WORDS CAME FROM THE LIVING GOD

DOWN FROM HEAVEN

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD

LIVED ON FOREVER AND PERVADED IN THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM

AND FOR A SECOND I WAS BLINDED BY HIS LIGHT

AND FOUND MYSELF ONCE MORE

IN THE FRONT YARD WITH THE OLD MAN

AND THE TWO LEMON TREES

AND HE SAYS TO ME

SEEK AND YOU SHALL FIND

THE LORD YOUR GOD

AND KNOW THAT IAM HE

AND I KNEEL DOWN BEFORE HIM

FOR HE WAS JESUS CHRIST

AN OLD MAN

AND I HES HUMBLE SERVANT

AS THE WORLD CHANGED COLOUR

AND HE TOOK MY HAND LEADING ME HOMEWARD

TO A LAND ID ONLY HEARD ABOUT IN STORIES

FULL OF MYTHS AND LEGENDS

AS AN EASTERN MEADOWLARK SUNG

A SONG FOR GOD

IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN

BY THE WESTERN WALL

I TOOK THE HAND OF JESUS CHRIST

AND SAT QUIETLY AS HE SPOKE

THESE ARE THE DAYS OF MILK AND FLOWERS

Blog Poetry Three

,

.COWBOYS AND FLOWERS

WE THE COWBOY MEN

WITH THE DAISY CHAINS

FLOWER GARLANDS

THE CATTLE HERDERS

THE MEN ON HORSEBACK

CARRIED HIGH IN THE SADDLE

OLD TAN LEATHER TREATED LIKE NEW

LEATHER CARE AND WAX KITS

AND ALL THE MEN WORKING IN THE LONELY PLACES

COWBOYS ON THE FRINGE OF SOCIETY

POOR FARM BOYS

THE DOWNTRODDEN

THE REAL AMERICANS

FEEDING THE CITY FOLK

DOWN ON DROVERS ROAD

CATTLE KINGS IN COLONIAL AMERICA

BENEATH THIS SKIN A MAN

WILD APPALACHIA TRAILS

BORN A COW KEEPERS SON

LONG HAIR ACROSS THIS NAKED PLAINS

THE BIG HERD BESIDE THE RAILWAY TRACKS

HEADED HOME TO THE STOCKYARDS

GILDED BOYS AND PENNY MEN

HAVING GOOD NIGHTS

HERDER FLANK

HORSE AND GUN

SWING DRAG

A FIVE THOUSAND CATTLE HEAD

DROVE ON TOWARDS THE BLUE SKYE

RECOUNTING A STORY FROM LONG AGO

ONCE I WAS A FARMERS SON

SAT HERE IN THE SADDLE

A RARE PAYING JOB

THE RITES OF PASSAGE TO A YOUNG MAN

OWNING A HORSE AND A GUN

I WRITE LETTERS HOME

WITH NO FORWARDING ADDRESS

PENMANSHIP ADRIFT ON THE PAGE

HANDWRITING WELL WISHES TO MY OLD MUM

CHEERLESS AND TIRESOME I RECOUNT TALES

AND KILL CATTLE FOR THE MEN TO EAT

THE LIGHT IS HARD OUT HERE UNDER THE STARS

AND I SHAKE AT THE COLD IN THE RAIN

AND TREMBLE AT THE THUNDER IN THE SKYE

A PREGNANT COW DROPPED A NEW BORN CALF

AND THE CALF GOT SHOT SOON AFTER IN THE HEAD

AND I CRIED LIKE A BABY

BAWLED MY EYES OUT

AT THIS STINKING WASTEFULNESS OF LIFE

THERES NO GLAMOUR IN BEING A COWBOY

OLD TRAILS AND CATTLE TOWNS

I WISH I WAS A CHEROKEE INDIAN

CROSSING THE SONORAN DESERT LAND

A HEROIC COWBOY

WITH WATER FOR MY DESERT THIRST

UNDER THE ORANGE SKYE

AS SAGUARO CACTUS TREES BECOME THE LANDSCAPE

AND I RECALL WHITE STALLIONS RANCH

WITH ITS HIGH WHITE WASHED WALLS

AND THE SMILE OF A MAN NAMED NED

I REMEMBER SEEING THOSE WESTERN MOVIES

AND THINKING IF ONLY THAT WAS ME

HOW EASY LIFE WOULD BE

HONORABLE MEN

COWBOYS SEEN FROM THE ROAD

IN RANCHING COUNTRY

AMERICAN COWBOY

WITH MOHICAN HAIR

BOY PUNK

CAUGHT IN A PLAINS LIFE

THE BUFFALO AND THE INDIAN

THE COWBOY IN THE VILLAGE SQUARE

RIDING THROUGH THE CITY ON HORSEBACK

A NATIVE COUNTRY

AND A NATIVE MAN

BECOMING JUST SO AMERICAN

A VISION IN THE SUNSET

MIDNIGHT COWBOYS

THE POWERS OF THE MOUNTAINS

THE SYMPHONY IN THE GRASSES

BOOTS UNDER THE BED

THE YELLOW WALLPAPER

WITH THE SMALL FLOWERS ABOVE HIS HEAD

HIS FACE ABOVE MINE

AND THE SOFT BED WITH GOOD WOOL BLANKETS

THICK MERINO WOOL

TO KEEP US WARM THROUGH THE COLD NIGHTS

LIVING A GOOD LIFE

AND BEING A GOOD MAN TO A GOOD MAN

THIS HONEST COUNTRY LIFE

HE WAS KIND LIKE THAT

HE SAID THERE ARE LEGENDS OUT HERE

THE CATTLE AMONGST THE MEN

REAL MEN

STRONG MEN

THE KIND THAT KISS YOU

AND DRIVE YOU HOME

WHO BUY YOU FLOWERS

AND STUFF LIKE THAT

YOU ARE A REAL COWBOY

IF YOUR A BEAUTIFUL MAN

THE LOVES OF A COWBOY

STAY STRONG UNDER A DESERT SKYE

HE SAID

WE WALKED ON PAINTED STARS

AND TOUCHED THE MOON

BELOW THE WHITE CLOUDS

FILLED WITH THE IVORY GEESE

THAT BECAME THE EGG SHELLS

HEAVENLY THAT BLUE SKYE

I KNEW A YOUNG COWBOY

I KNEW A YOUNG MAN

1975

ON THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO

THE MEN IN TIGHT JEANS WITH THE WHITE T SHIRTS

AND THE BIG COWBOY HATS

SMOKING FLOWER CIGARETTES

AND BIG COWBOY BOOTS

IN THE CITY LATE AT NIGHT

DOWN ON MARKET STREET

THE BOYS OF THE CASTRO NEIGHBOURHOOD

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY

IN THEIR BEST COWBOY GEAR

UNDER THE GOLDEN ASH TREES

THE WESTERN TOWN MEN WORE DAISY CHAINS

AND WAITED FOR THE END OF THE NIGHT

THE LAST CALL RANG OUT IN THE BARS

SHUTTING TIME BEGAN

BELOW A NIGHT FULL OF STARS

MILLIONS OF MEN KISSED EACH OTHER GOODNIGHT

AND FELL ASLEEP IN EACH OTHERS ARMS

DREAMING OF XANADU

A PLACE OF SUCH GREAT IDYLLIC MAGNIFICENCE BEAUTY

AND THOSE HOT SUMMER NIGHTS

IN THE CITY WERE FILLED WITH THE SOUNDS OF STRAY CATS ON THE ROOFTOPS

WITH ALL THE BEAUTIFUL COWBOY MEN

FULL OF THE SPIRITS AS THEY AMBLED ON HOME

AS A FLOCK OF BLUE PIGEONS FLEW LOW OVERHEAD

ON THEIR WAY TO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS JUST BEFORE THE RISING OF THE DAWN

AND THE GARBAGE MEN BEGAN TO CLEAN THE STREETS

WITH THE CLANG OF THE METAL TRASH CANS

THE LOUD NOISE FROM THE GARBAGE TRUCKS

THE BREAKING OF GLASS BOTTLES FROM THE BINS

AS THEY ROLLED AROUND IN THE BODY OF THE TRUCK

MIDNIGHT WAILED IN THE NOISE OF THE CATS

AND THE SOUND OF THE WHITE MOTHS AT THE WINDOWS

BECAME THE DAY AND THE NIGHT

THE SUN AND THE MOON

CRAZY ON PAINTED WINGS

AND THE LAST TIME I SAW THE FLOWERS

I SAT DOWN AND LIT MY CIGARETTE

IN MY BEST COWBOY FLANNEL

ACROSS THE ROOM FROM THE MIRROR

MY REFLECTION STOOD

MY FACE HAD AGED A THOUSAND YEARS FROM MY YOUTH

SOMETHINGS ARE LOST FOREVER

WHILE BLUE THINGS CARRY THROUGH

I MOURNED

THE BROWN ONIONS

THE RADISHES

THE CAPSICUM AND THE ZUCCHINIS

THE DEEP GREEN CELERY HEARTS

ARTICHOKES

AVOCADOS AND OLIVES

THIS HAS BECOME SUCH A LONG NIGHT

AS I LEANED BACK IN MY CHAIR AGAINST THE KITCHEN WALL

WRITING A GROCERY LIST

THE REFRIGERATORS DOORS OPEN

AND THE LIGHT IS ON

ILLUMINATING THE INTERIOR

GOURMET TOMATOES

EGGPLANTS

PORK CHOPS

EGGS

COLD CUT MEATS

A BLOCK OF CHEESE

THESE ARE THE THINGS I NEED

THE CLUNK OF THE THERMOSTAT ROARS THE MOTOR INTO LIFE

AND I DRIFT OFF INTO SLUMBER

MY FACED LAYED DOWN ON THE COLD LAMINATED TABLE

TOMORROW THERE ARE SUPERMARKETS

AND ERRANDS TO RUN

BILLS TO PAY

AND KIN FOLK TO SEE

BUT FOR NOW IAM IN THE HAPPY PLACE

THESE GOLDEN ROLLING HILLS

A 5AM COWBOY

IN THE CITY BY THE BAY

THESE FOLK FROM CALIFORNIA

WHERE FLAX GOLDEN WAS THE SUN

WHERE THE WHITE SANDS OLEANDERS BLOOMED

AND GREW THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE

THE CHARTREUSE GRASS OF THE CITY

SPRING NIGHTS

BEFORE THE LONG AND THE EVENTUAL DAWN

SANDCASTLES AND CALIFORNIAN HIGHWAYS

DREAM MEADOWS

GRASS FLOWERS

AND OPEN FIELDS

THESE HOLY LANDS

JERUSALEM

AUSTRALIA

AND BEYOND CALIFORNIA

SHINING LIKE A BLUE EYED BOY IN THE NIGHT

THROUGH THE WITCHING HOURS

3AM

AFTER EVENFALL

THE HOUSE IS QUIET IN THE NIGHT

WHILE YOU WERE FAST ASLEEP

WAITING ON GOD

AND I WAS PRACTICING MY FAITH

STARING AT THE SKYE

IN THE LAND OF COWBOYS AND FLOWERS

I SAW A KING WEARING A CROWN

WATCHING THE WILD ALBATROSSES FLY

Blog Post Poetry Four

.THE LAKE FREIGHTERS

THE LAKE FREIGHTERS

THE INLAND OF THE SEA

MILES AND MILES OF INTERCOASTAL WATERWAYS

I WITNESSED THE PROGRESSION OF THE BOATS

THROUGH THE BACKWATER WATERWAYS

A GREAT ORANGE SHIP

MADE OF STEEL AND IRON

SKIMMED ALONG THE WATERS SURFACE

THE FLOODS OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

BURSTING THROUGH THE LAKE BURROUGHS

BRINGING THE HIGH TIDES WITH IT

SEAWARD I HAVE TRAVELLED

A SHIP FULL OF THE TONES OF CARGO

A HULL FULL OF MODERN TREASURES

WHAT GIFTS IT BROUGHT ALONG THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI

FOUR TIMES A WEEK ACROSS THE SEASONS OF A YEAR

OVER THE GREAT LAKES

CONNECTED BY THE BANKS OF THE RIVER

THE TUNNELLERS

ORANGE HULL FLOATED ABOVE THE SURFACE

AS THE WATER DIPPED AND DIVED

A HUGE PASSAGE NORTHWARD

SEARCHING FOR THE CANALS AND THE LOCKS

AS THE MEN WORE BLUE OVERALLS

RUDDY AND DIRTY

ON A WARM SEPTEMBERS DAY

SHOUTING PROFANITIES

HAUL YOU BASTARD HAUL

HAUL YOU BASTARD HAUL

PAY DAY ONLY EXISTED AT THE ENDS OF THE RIVERS

PALE BLUE MEN SET AGAINST THE SKYE

A CONSTANT MOVING COUNTRY

AND THE AIR SMELT OF THE RIVERS

DANK AND DIRTY

LIKE THE MEN THEMSELVES

A SCENE FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY

ONLY IN AMERICA

INDUSTRIALIZATION

PUSHED THE PASSAGE FORWARD

AT A FRIGHTENING PACE

AND I TOOK A SLOW BOAT

WITH THE MEN RIDING THE LAKE FREIGHTERS

I WATCHED THE MEN AND THE SUNSET

THE SUN ABOVE THE FOREST GLADES

A CITY IN THE SHADOWS IN THE DISTANCE

LAND AHOY CAPTAIN

REDWOODS AND PINE TREES

GIGANTIC WHITE CEDAR ASH

A PASSENGER ON A MAMMOTH SHIP

SMOKERS AND WHISTLE STACKS

BLUE WHALES BEFORE THE OCEAN BLUE

A THOUSAND MILES OF ISLANDS

HERE WHERE THE CLOUDS FROM THE SHIP BLOCK THE SUN

AND I FEELL LIKE A GHOST

FROM A TIME BEFORE THE SUN GREW RED

AND BRIGHT ORANGE WAS THE SKYE

FROM THE MOUNTAINS CAME THE WIND

THE FLOWING RIVERS ADRIFT IN THE FOG

ON THE LAKERS

TIME PASSED SLOWLY

AND SEAGULLS WERE REFLECTED IN THE GLOW OF THE SHIPS ORANGE LIGHT

AS THE SKIES REFLECTION WAS CAUGHT IN THE WATERS OF THE RIVER

AND THERE SHE STOOD

IN ALL HER GLEAMING GLORY

THE DOCKLANDS OF NEW YORK CITY

A STEEL TOWN IN USA

NEIGHBOURHOODS BUILT AROUND STEEL PLANTS

AND THE CITY GREW IN AN INSTANT

FROM THE CARGO WE CARRIED

A LEGENDARY METROPOLIS

AS THE GREAT LAKES SLOWLY PASSED BEHIND ME

RIPPLES IN THE WATER

ALL THE SMALL TIDES OF THE RIVER

AND FROM THE TOWER BRIDGE

I SAW THE WHOLE WORLD

AND LIKED IT

THIS SORDID LOVE AFFAIR BETWEEN THE LAND AND THE SEA

FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END

NATIVE TROUTS AND WATERBIRDS

SEA GROPERS AND SEAGULLS

THE SALMON AND THE STREAMS

WHAT WATCHES FROM THE TREES

IN A SMALL CLEARING IN THE FOREST

BEARS AND ELK

AS THE NIGHT AIR FILLS UP

FULL OF THE WHITE MOTHS

AND WHAT DO THEY THINK

OF THE HUGE STEEL VESSEL FLOATING BEFORE THEM

TONES AND TONES OF STEEL

PLUNDERING THE WATERWAYS

AND I HEAR THE CRY OF THE GRAY WOLF

IN THE CITY OF MIRRORS

THAT SUPERHIGHWAY AMERICA

IS LOUD AND DIRTY

AS CARS PASS MY HOTEL ROOM IN CHELSEA

IN THAT NIGHTS DREAM

IAM WAKE LOOKING AT THE MOON FROM THE ICEBREAKERS

BECOMING THE WOLF

IN THE WINTER WONDERLAND ICY AND COLD

SNOW DRIVEN AND FROZEN

A LAND FULL OF THE SHADES OF WHITE

RIDING SHIPS AND CARS

ACROSS AMERICA

THE BREAKWATERS AND THE ROADS

BECOMING ALL OF ME

ALL THOSE POSSIBLE PARTS OF ME

THAT I COULD MANAGE TO BE

WEARING THE BLUE OVERALLS FROM CANADA TO AMERICA

ONE OF THOSE MEN ON THE LAKE FREIGHTERS

FAST ASLEEP TILL MORNING COMES AGAIN

A LETTER HOME TO PROVINCETOWN

STEVEN IAM COLD ON THE LAKE FREIGHTERS

ILL BE COMING HOME TO THE PLACES THAT ARE OURS

FULL OF THE LITTLE RITUALS

SOON IT WILL BE THE SUMMER AGAIN

AND I SHALL FOLLOW YOU EVERYWHERE YOU GO

TO THE OPEN COUNTRY

TO THE OPEN SKYE

TO THE HOUSE ON THE HILL

BELOW THE CYAN BLUE SKIES

I PROMISE YOU

ILL BE COMING HOME

AND I HEARD THE CHESTNUT TREES RUSTLE IN THE WIND

THE DANCERS CRY ON GRAY STREET

THE LAWN MOWERS AND THE BEES

AND I WAS NEARLY HOME

AMID THE FLOWER CASTLES

AND THE FRONT YARDS

HOURS BY THE HOURS

REMEMBERING THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

AND THE COMMON STREETS

AMONG THE RIVER BOATS

THE SOFT GARDEN UNDERFOOT

I WAS HOME

AND HE SMILED

WELCOMING ME IN HIS ARMS

HE SAID THE WIND IS LOUD AND IT IS QUIET TOO

IT IS BOTH LOUD AND QUIET

AND I LISTENED TO IT EVERYDAY

WHILE I WAITED FOR YOU TO RETURN

YOU ARE

THE YOU AND I

I SPEAK OF

THE MAN THAT LINGERS IN MY DOORWAY

AND YOULL BE THERE TOMORROW

WHEN EVENING COMES AGAIN

IN A DREAM I HELD YOU ON THE LAKE FREIGHTERS,

SOMEWITHER A MAN WAITS IN BROOKLYN