Earth Tourist

recently posted poems by alan reynolds

Prep Notes for Teachers: Sample Test for Your ‘Poetry Appreciation’ Students

Posted on 3 Aug 2017 by Alan Reynolds

Back when you read this poem (or didn’t, it does not matter),
did its title take your thoughts that bit to Walden?
For extra credit, make a pun combining ‘scalding’
with solutions to any resemblance to a hatter
whom the poem’s protagonist cheated, and was it his balding
that sent him out for a duck? Was he a batter?
To do well on this test, write long and dense-
ly, taking care to let no phrase make sense.

Whither Cupid

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Whither Cupid

Specious Spectacles

Posted on 30 Jul 2017 by Alan Reynolds

Specious Spectacles

Blue Mountains

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Blue Mountains poem postcard larger

Shaded Statue

Posted on 23 Jul 2017 by Alan Reynolds

Dry tears
that no one sees
crack furrows, fragile lines
in cheeks that no one touches with
kind hands.

Published in The Armchair Aesthete, Autumn 1997 issue; part of ‘July Travels’ collection

Pack Rat

Posted on 21 Jul 2017 by Alan Reynolds

Drunk in a roadhouse and happy,
I dance to the beat of the band.
It heats Cuervo Gold margaritas
that fuse, in my brain pan, the sand
left over from mining for Maundy
in my tent on the outskirt of dreams
where she, still in love, still accompanies
my travels. I order Jim Beams.

Published in The Armchair Aesthete, June 1996

The Boundary of My Ignorance

Posted on 20 Jul 2017 by Alan Reynolds

The boundary of my ignorance is a point
upon an other wisely absent line
itself too straight to curve itself around
circumferences. My ignorance is unbound.

The more I learn, less brightly burns the light
illuminating spaces I can’t know.
This lets me think I’m winning wisdom while
in fact the gods in kindness make me blind.

Capitol in 2045 CE

Posted on 18 Jul 2017 by Alan Reynolds

Pig Duroc and Cat Ginger wade in water dark as tea.
It is ankle deep in this part of old Washington DC
‘It is low tide now, but dampish,’ the cat gingerly explains.
‘Especially now we are suffering from unending monsoon rains.
Clove your hooves and clog dance. That churns up baby squid.
They’re an easy catch. I’ll show you.’ Cat Ginger purred and did.
Pig Duroc did a pirouette, then a header, pranged a bream.
He ate fresh fish and chortled. ‘Without humans life’s a dream!’