Rumi, Glimpse of the Gate–Published in San Diego Poetry Annual 2016-2017

Weakness, visions, roses
Shiraz—so long ago
A book
Rumi
Mosque, blue mosaics
Glimpse of the gate, the prophet
Places now gone, still in me
Though the sticky strands of the web
Pull to a different place
And no place

Sit with Jizo in a desert garden
Palo Verde Tree
Brass bowl chime
Pull me back to electron friends
From not, not being

You are the fragrant garden
Kumquat blossoms, rich lavender
Birdsong and spiraled butterflies
Nothing to grasp
I slip from beauty to traffic, buzz saws
Silver strands of spider web don’t pull me
Where are those that do?

© Barbara Huntington