KENNETH P. GURNEY

NOT NECESSITY, BUT DESIRE AND RESOLVE

A naked man runs the windy plain,
escapes complacent fires.

His foot is twisted in such a way
that shoes never fit comfortably.

He keeps on going. His irregular step
does not slow him down.

There is something ahead of him he loves
and he will find it—his gods guide him.

There is that in each of us, a memory,
the courage to do what must be done,

to leave the water for air, to will our atoms
to rearrange their purpose.

ANYONE CAN EMERGE FROM THE DARK

The woman carries herself
like the Madonna.

A portrait painted many times
hangs on the lonely wall.

For years she’s lived alone,
married to the man away

on business, Paris, Madrid,
Rome and other destinations.

One weary evening
when he is returned to her,

her husband slowly brushes
her long, auburn hair.

He asks, “Why did you wait until now
to show me that you are beautiful?”

EMIT

Angels shrug their shoulders, flap
their wings and fly away.

On velum, plaster, hot breath,
gold leaf adheres, is burnished.

Egg tempera, angels appear on the next page,
a steady hand illuminates.

A letter is written in a fine script.
Period. Paul’s missive ends.

Tallow collects on the table.
A quick breath. Two.

Small flames rest now
inside the wick.

Kenneth Gurney is a GHOTI distributor in Washington State with a proclivity for going about the rugged business of life as nakedly as possible. He is also curator of the Tamafyhr Mountain Poetry website, which sponsors the much-loved monthly Poetry Challenge that's been driving our subscribers to the page, leaky pens in trembling hands.