The Last Rainbow

—Poems by B.Z. Niditch, Brookline, MA

—Anonymous Photos

MARCH WINDS

March winds
tuck at you

from the ocean
toward daybreak

watching
the humpback whale

from my kayak
anchored off shore

free himself
from being entangled

in fishing nets
on his twisted body,

a rescue ship sails by
with several hands clapping

at the sea
escape.

THE BACK ROAD

The back road
near a large scented field

Two are playing tennis
another chess

on a Sunday
a few souls are restless

Amusement
seems endless.

STREETCARS

Green and orange
streetcars

drive and rattle
by the traffic lights

You ask yourself
why the hurry

in the muffled dawn
and take a breath.

RESCUE OF A BIRD

Wings flapping
in my hand

by the shore beach's
edge of crocus

in a recognition
one of us will forget

the silent watch
in the sun.

A FOOTPRINT

A footprint
in the grass

on a contemplative day
congratulates us

for getting through
the greensward valley

just to find a flower
for this incandescent hour.

DEREK WALCOTT PASSES
(1930-2017)

Derek loved the sun
even when the snow

was on the ground,
now in poppies and ashes

we remember the sounds
in breakers of the Caribbean

by a first spring on hedge groves
or waking at the last rainbow.

_____________________

Today’s LittleNip:
 
IMPROVISATION #432
THE WALL

—B.Z. Niditch

The city wall
is scribbled with graffiti

You write
a futuristic poem

about your past
in the abyss

signalling
the anxiousness

of your own
metamorphosis.

________________________

—Medusa, with thanks to B.Z. Niditch for today’s wonderful poetry! For more about the life and last week's death of Poet Derek Walcott, go to www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/derek-walcott-a-mighty-poet-has-died/.

 Celebrate poetry, and remember that 

Poetry Unplugged happens at Luna’s Cafe tonight 

in Sacramento, 8pm. Also tonight, there will be a 
Women in the Arts panel discussion 
at Crocker Art Museum, 6:30pm, headed by 
Kathrine Lemke Waste, President of American Women Artists.
(See www.crockerart.org/event/1178/2017-03-23/.) 
Scroll down to the blue column 

(under the green column at the right) for info about other 
upcoming poetry events in our area—

and note that more may be added at the last minute.

Photos in this column can be enlarged by clicking on them once,
then click on the X in the top right corner to come back
to Medusa.