Outside The Window

quietly AM






it isn't early
but early enough
for air to be still
and critters 
invisible

the rose bush
is quietly red
and leaning
ground-side
heavy with
bloom.








Poem © 2012 R. Burnett Baker
Photo©  2012 R. Burnett Baker

Idiomatic Logic / Contrived Logic

story time 

there are two sides, it's said 

to every story.

the color of a lie 

depends on degrees of 

conscience, but each one

(the lies, that is) tells its 

own truth, its 

idiomatic logic, its 

variegated connection 

to its polar opposite. 

"variegated", however

 is the ultimate 

contrived logic. 

Poem © 2012 R. Burnett Baker 

Photo © 2012 R. Burnett Baker 

Photo taken by R. Baker, Lamberton Conservatory in Highland Park, Rochester, NY

Sunrise, Sunset

you/I/us 




how similar are 
sunrise and sunset 
colors, (discordant 
echos removed) eyes 
sounding tiny streaks 
of light 


radiant and glorious 
as each second's 
birth? 


close your eyes: 
inhale the fragrance 
of magnificent sameness
in our differences. 




Poem © 2012 R. Burnett Baker 
Photo © 2012 R. Burnett Baker 

Photo taken by R. Baker, Lamberton Conservatory in Highland Park, Rochester, NY

Keeping In Touch: Gathering Our Lives...

gathering lives 




so for years 
we have known
and been content
in the knowing 
of each other. 


the second hand 
is relentless, though,
and for once 
we must stop 
gathering details, 
and fix a gaze 
on one another. 


we must, 
for surely 
the sun will rise 
and muddled muffled 
dreams of sleep 
will fade and 
our memory will 
be that of 
abstractions. 


we will question, 
then, 


whether we 
dream in color 
or black and 
white. 




Poem © 2012 R. Burnett Baker 
Photo © 2012 R. Burnett Baker 
Photo taken by R. Baker, Lamberton Conservatory in Highland Park, Rochester, NY

Magpie Tales 119: Denial

in this death
together




the search for clues
began. never had 
they considered their
own closets, or under
their hats.  hiding 
valuables in shoes 
was common but 
uncomfortable, 


so no one could fathom 
why she walked so far 
for so long, then sat 
staring at the table


as if to bring him 
back to life; or why


her eyes gazed fixed 
on the sky, unblinking,
glazed. 


denial is the first step to 
abdicating responsibility. 




Poem © 2012 R. Burnett Baker 
Painting:  House At Dusk, 1935, Edward Hopper Shared by Tess Kincaid

A Flower In Every Season

unfazed 




there is satisfaction
in playing nature 
against her moment, 
standing tall when
out of season;


dancing under 
storm clouds 
waltzing the
horizon; 


basking in sunlight
diving into night;


in placing one smile
against  the stem of
wagered
odds. 




Poem © 2012 R. Burnett Baker
Photo © 2012 R. Burnett Baker
Photo taken by R. Baker, Lake Buchanan, Texas.

Reflection In The Sand

(un)natural

when we came upon the carcass,

dust and maggots in mass, the heavens 

opened to tears and prayer, silent

though they were, 

and no one dared speculate on 

cause or danger ahead. each 

piece of flesh that becomes 

nourishment becomes a gift to 

something, these creatures, 

this earth of recycled givens 

taken for granted 

by sheer existence. 

decomposition is the 

creation of chaos, 

the bundled horror 

of what we imagine 

as our fate.

Poem ©2012 R. Burnett Baker 
Photo ©2012 R. Burnett Baker 
Photo taken by R. Baker, October, 2011 Lake Buchanan, Texas.