Bearded Perseverance Poem by Felix Bongjoh

(for a bison)


(i)

A rainbow arc flashed
with the old man rising
into his hump,

until his hill's peak
curved into his legs, his wheeled
feet rolling on
in faster strides for a run.

Whipped by snow,
he climbed the sun's shadow
and tried to run faster
than the sun's lake-paced rays.

But the sun outpaced him,
as he came face to face
with heavier screens of snow
drawn off the sun's eyes.

(ii)

The old dude whimpered
in his cot, a baby,
who soon grew a heavy beard

and wallowed amid
stars of snow, roaming for room
to sprint to a moon

of heavier balls
and splashed slates of snow.

From a bag tugged
into his heavy winter coat,
he dished out

the tastiest flesh his guests
had ever had - a piece
of perseverance,
short legs carrying a heavy mountain,

when a sniveling baby
is caught running
in a heavy beard and cream flowers
grow dark-gray beards.

An evening flashes roaring fangs
and a lightning-tailed eclipse
plants both night
and day to harvest sun and moon.

A high sea wave
waves the bison's flag
unfolding daisy stars of light
and flying dots of night.