Japanese Garden On A Warm December Night Poem by Hugh Cobb
Japanese Garden On A Warm December Night
Late December night
unseasonal, almost balmy
I step into the small Japanese Garden
in the center of three buildings:
this is the locus, the point which
pins brick to its substance
anchoring this place to the world...
I stand here & breathe night air,
allow darkness to embrace me
secret lover enfolding me
bringing me to a point of stillness
where even held breath could
shatter silence, cause the very stars
to blink out, one-by-one
leaving darkness so total
it must be my own...
In this numinous state
imagination's so vivid, so complete
I can see a stream running
beneath the small wooden bridge
defining this gentle, reflective space.
For a moment, I can forget reality’s hard truth:
Bridge covers a storm drain,
its charm accidental, by-product of function
- dispersing rain water, rushing river,
Into pipes - keeping property safe & dry,
Garden pristine in starlight;
caught in my lover's spell,
I allow practicality
to disperse, water down pipes.
Surrendering to silent darkness,
I hear only the mutable sussuration
of water rushing over smooth stones.
(Copyright 12/28/2005)
when IT comes nothing remains and no matter how the Great Moment comes to be that you have felt IT leaves a lingering in the heart that Nirvana must be held in highest regard and so should this poem which gives the reader a taste of that moment which you experienced a wonderful poem and gift
Beautiful poem, absolutely beautiful. The soothing atmosphere you create here is a joy to read. Well done.
Wonderful and wistful. a device of discord flows through the description as it reads to me. The stars going out one by one like the lights in a mall shutting off at closing time...This really hit me in the chest Hugh, the elements like yin and yang, of beauty and sorrow, flowing over rocks, with the storm drain kind of control which are put to everything, to make it work, that's the necessity of aesthetics, to remove us for a while from the pain of living. That's why poets create Japanese Gardens.
Well...I really had to think about the 'secret lover'...because secrets fascinate me...but in my spellbound of the poem, I formed the conclusion that the Japanese Garden was the secret enfolding you. This poem has qualities that delight the senses. Thanks again Hugh.
I'm fascinated with anything Japanese.. I really enjoyed this. Red
Quite a splendid piece of work. Reminiscent of a garden of a friend's in NOLA, right off the Quarter. Once inside the gate, the world disappeared and only the trees and birds and grass and fountain existed. I found it hard at the end of the evening to be led from that spot. It was like I would imagine Heaven's gardens to be. Rita
This is a wonderful poem to read. The imagery is great. You are incredibly talented, and I look foward to reading more of your poems
This is wonderful, Hugh. There is a garden just like this right in the middle of Los Angeles, hidden away behind tall buildings. A treasure, like your poem.
I've never been in a Japanese garden Hugh but you certainly make me want to visit one! This is beautiful. Sincerely, Mary
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/19/2024 1:04:21 PM # 1.0.0.1119
You project a wonderfully calming image of the Japanese Garden Hugh, there is one very near me, but have a thing about Bonzai, It feels weird that a tree can be so stunted and yet so old to me. I kind of feel responsible! stupid it is! 10 from Tai, wishing you a 2006 full of hugs