Knox Bronson ~ Old Bay Bridge

EACH BON MOT HAS COST ME A PURSE OF GOLD.
ERASE THE LINES OF THE NIGHT FROM THE COUCH OF THE DAY.
COOL TURQUOISE CRYSTAL FEATHER — WOLF PROTON GYRE.
SCROLLED FERN SHADOW SPORE — BREAST SALT MOON.
Wheel of the galaxy turning in tumbleweed.
Faces of antelope staring from ice cream.
Watches ticking on the backs of turtles.
Tambourines tinkling in apple trees.
Flames full of creatures arising from the mouths of worms
Bearded men pondering in dreams.
Bees and moths darting on the fields of purple asters.
Odor of hummingbird mint crunched under boot heel.
Maya.
Spirit.
Matter.
River.
Creek.
River.
Matter.
Spirit.
Maya.
Odor of hummingbird mint crunched under boot heel.
Bees and moths darting on the fields of purple asters.
Bearded men pondering in dreams.
Flames full of creatures arising from the mouths of worms.
Tambourines tinkling in apple trees.
Watches ticking on the backs of turtles.
Faces of antelope staring from ice cream.
Wheel of the galaxy turning in tumbleweed.
SCROLLED FERN SHADOW SPORE — BREAST SALT MOON.
COOL TURQUOISE CRYSTAL FEATHER — WOLF PROTON GYRE.
ERASE THE LINES OF THE NIGHT FROM THE COUCH OF THE DAY.
EACH BON MOT HAS COST ME A PURSE OF GOLD.

—Michael McClure

I made a policy decision a couple years back: I get to have a {daily pic} on my birthday. You know, so I can learn what it feels like to have a {daily pic}! So it’s my birthday and here we are. I asked Kirsten to pick the picture & the music for me, but the choice of poem was mine.

Each bon mot has cost me a purse of gold.

How much that sentence means to me. McClure uses it as bookends to a symmetrical chain of bon mots, if you will. For each magical word and musical phrase and incandescent image, he willingly forsook the purse of gold. That is what the artist does.

So it speaks to me.

Here is another poem by McClure. I have one hanging on my wall now.

You can learn more about the poster by clicking on the image or you can listen to my podcast about Gahr Thy Rooh Graheer here.

Gold by Bondax