On Home Ground: Three poems

by Gerry Loose

On Not Meeting Du Fu in Skeoch Wood
Twelve Hundred and Fifty One Years After He Left

each day the paths grow deeper in leaves no-one here
the hound runs there & here back to check on me
I think like father & son we love each other
the jays scold us for walking on acorns
maple leaves keep falling tree limbs cracking
for a few days no duties tonight I’ll drink more wine
who needs me sober ravens fly upside down

******

pandemic & storms two years
away from the hut heart failed half
blind in one eye fearful for the other

woods and hills walk on
leave me here reading Du Fu
dreaming of the orchard

flyting owls flying geese
I’ll steal the stars set them anew
such freedom in staying still

******

Notes on Flying

though they walk polite
dogs here these days

the hound & I stravaig
the woods’ upper reaches

together we almost soar
he bounds for sheer joy

heart dancing left footed
grey haired stumbling

after even myself
flying into emptiness