Amber

The amber in San Cristobal
is ancient and unsurpassed
we are told with conviction,
colours of India pale ale,
strong English tea,

and Victoria honey
impregnating rings and pendants
On my little finger
is the eye of a reptile
refracting every sun
like pine pitch
The stone on my hand
observes my every move
with a ritual
that is ancient and unsurpassed

11/15/07 

copyright 2007 Trevor Haug

from "Stone Speech, Poems from Latin America"

The Rains Have Come

The rains have come, plural storms
steady, refusing to improvise
They would seduce me to sleep
if not for the gypsy violinists,
full of coffee and arpeggios,
dancing around my bed
I did not ask for this much rain
No flyers came
to solicit my vote for the wind
I expect weather
But all must be balanced
Hence the mad bohemian
folkfest after midnight
And how my wife sleeps through it all
I shall never know

15/11/07

copyright 2007 Trevor Haug

from "West of Vancouver, Poems from the Island"