The Terracotta General
Updated: Jan 21, 2021
A summer reunion, Shangrila, Calif.
All things pass before the eyes
Of the Terracotta General
Fall winds and winter snows
Breath of spring and heat of summer
But as the days grow longer
The yurt tents sprout like mushrooms
Here, there, and over yonder
The Terracotta General blinks
The land is in transformation
The blue pond is the center jewel
Shrunk to size by the expanding deck
Details are etched into the landscape canvas
Something’s in the air
What is it all for?
A hairline crease appears on the forehead
Of the Terracotta General
Terracotta fisherman begins to pull
The far-flung bonds of friendship
Umbilical, invisible cords of light
He draws the net closer and closer
We are one helluva catch
Dumped in his front yard
To flop and flip and kiss and hug
In one great Aurora Borealis blanket
Terracottaman, he knows what’s gone before
Knows who’s loved and won
Hearts and lost the game of
Poker, Pocket and Rams
Turning, turning with us all
On the wheel, around we go
Terracottaman,
He is the wheel
But then Terracottaman
Leans on the brake
Cable car man of life
Slows the wheel for a few seconds, a minute, a weekend?
Time enough at least
For the Fountain of Love to gush
And crush the hourglass of time
Sands of grain blowing in the wind
Bringing answers
To unformed questions
To be together
Is enough
So Mars was a no-show
Terracottaman he knew
There were stars enough
And also better stuff lined up
Belly dancers
Terracotta raised an eyebrow
Fire jugglers
He almost broke a sweat
They ate, they drank,
They danced, they fondled
Grinning Terracotta
Whipped the wheel
Quiet now, all departed
The hosts are spent
But happy
They pulled it off
The Terracotta General
Gaze unfazed
Readies for winter
With warm roses in his belly
He stands there
With snow and a milk moustache
Guarding always
Shangri La
TLK, 2009
Comments