La noche es un mundo que la misma noche alumbra*
— Antonio Porchia
Over desert grass and creosote bush, clouds
glide as giant monsters, and soon the stars
will cry in glittered protest. They snake
by feet of constellations kings and warriors
who cavort the forest black chasing dragons
and demons of mythical night.
From amphitheater hills, I watch the stars
blink in and out of clouds as if a toreador
flicked his cape in front of charging bulls
that kick up stardust into Orion’s eyes.
But soon the creature will depart. So let it
swoop and hide unfolding dramas in the sky.
It’s only for a little while, the heavens declare
there is no need to shoot the fiery darts
of city lights and risk the piercing of the heart
of night.
–
*Night is a world lit by itself
—
John C. Mannone has been nominated three times for the Pushcart. Recent work appears in Conclave, The Medulla Review, Rose & Thorn Journal, Hinchas de Poesía. He edits poetry for Silver Blade, teaches college physics in Tennessee and is a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador. Visit The Art of Poetry: http://jcmannone.wordpress.com.
200 New Mexico Poems 