John Knoepfle

sandalwood poem #14 where we have gone into our hidden selves we do not need to find each other at home in that country or bother to know what we know those beloved things familiar images places of concord the lights that burn there burn without flickering © John Knoepfle 1978, 2004

sandalwood poem #13   this house is old it has known kindred and at the suppers candles and some who spoke in those lights far away in their truth it has known many children I think with their soft lazy friends the windowsill cats a few dogs good for nothing but a journey with tobias […]

sandalwood poem #12 mouth is a good place for keeping the tongue hidden mockingbirds they don’t dance in a ring like mushrooms a presence wraps us around why should it echo anything but silence © John Knoepfle 1978, 2004

sandalwood poem #11   I offered you ten meadows of fireflies you gave me one box of sandalwood © John Knoepfle 1978, 2004

sandalwood poem #10 house wind sleep we do not raise our voices you hand me down my body © John Knoepfle 1978, 2004

sandalwood poem #9 when you go to jerusalem I will climb up your golden hair when the spell is broken you will see me as I am © John Knoepfle 1978, 2004

sandalwood poem #8 the hall mirror be kind to it believe in it it will tell you what I have seen © John Knoepfle 1978, 2004

sandalwood poem #7 I would build a nest in your ribs I would quarrel in your eyes I would fly out of your mouth and strike down death for you sparrow a dry wind has parched this land and there is no water please do not say it is my fault the lilies sleep in […]

sandalwood poem #6 I would enjoy even your telephone sadness for a little while that voice your center a cobalt blue drop the eye of the dragon my rill of pleasure come home soon my blind words they want to touch you and you are not here © John Knoepfle 1978, 2004

sandalwood poem #5 the two of us here and solitary our hopes of dreaming a landscape in ribbons the night a cold cruelty the long crossing and the waiting brakemans lantern omnipresent but not a sign for us the wind rocking it four engined diesel south bound for amarillo © John Knoepfle 1978, 2004

sandalwood poem #4   my anger is hidden I speak in whispers my spirit is ill waiting for an angel who will tell us what will become of us I say the wind beats me down my soul does timid a dead hydra a withered flower my brain recoils you look at me you consider […]

sandalwood poem #2 have you changed or is it I have lost my faith I am not with you anymore though you see how I am always here going down the same old road © John Knoepfle 1978, 2004