Glenn Bach - Five Poems

corollas blossom as hops

a cup with a flaring mouth     a hollow sphere

     to sound when moved

                                coral of a flower

the capital of a column

              between the abacus and neck

        the naked core of cylindrical shapes

                 within the leafage     time     or the time

of deer in rutting time     alone and insulated

     when of great size     a line of wall

as flanker     as curtain

     overtop (a borrowing)     the leading

sheep of a flock     ringing

                                    changes struck or rung slowly

the old belief that noise frightens hawks

sound with single strokes

     bank the hearths and prepare

for sleep (free to move)

conflagration from untended fires

a tacit conviction of the learned

the desert and the town     apparatus

                  for musical notes signaling ships

(implied in touching)    ocean edge

                                                against land’s end

2

     —a hard sell and a whim,

rapid tide to turn an auger.

Vex to pester form by means

(befool). Gun barrel (a passage)

by laborious effort through

a crowd.

Circular holes by the rotary motion

for water or oil. To sink a well,

a tree of insects. As it turns,

this timber.

Drilling a succession of blows,

several species known by shell.

Sandy stratum to sow as seeds

dribbling along a furrow or row,

a trickling allure. To slip

or waste.

Seed sometimes so formed that seeds

drop into the hole made deeper

or channel to funnel water

to a row of seed sown in a furrow.

3

Know that autumn

is a good time

of darkness,

downtown laurel.

Time to deadhead,

what bodes well

unseen in heavy

cover, of foliage

purple with black

bloom on old wood.

Dixieland's rust,

gundog thugs fear

over rise of first,

a rush of wind blows

open, some sand

or fighting cloth.

Rocks may stretch,

of kings how high

in moon.

Twist a simple idea,

unique array of light,

of lashes.

4

When the material of the foundation is secured as an image in our minds.

When the floors are sealed before the coming of fire season.

When the arrangement of rooms is anticipated for those with an interest in boundaries.

When the size of the windows is spoken in knowing tones to those citizens of the morning.

When the modules of spring settle in place.

When the diagnosis of elements installed.

When the stability of structures appears to be complete.

When the paper chase of framing still bitter about that month. 

5

hammer nor a sledge

dust instantly

        ends of wood

                     with beeswax

 heavy soled boots

                         gyprock

                                            of blowforce

xxxxx__

            xxx~xx__ (see sheetrock)

                      wide blade

                                 stiff bristle

             mason (twine)

                       of the black diamond

                                                            a distance

accurate

          in increments

is this true?

                    how are they used today?

     —blade marked

to scale, studs

          on center marked in red,

marked in black trusses

     or floor joists

that last bit of accuracy

          in the readings.

Remember the width

                                 when that spot

     is far away

                   one thumb     with serious

                oomph

                        crease sooner       narrow

                                       twisting

     —in dust or

when working alone,

hot in the sunshine,

lighter still for someone

               with small hands

                            due to the curvature

                                   and just

what thin circumferences

of mystery?