Joris John Heise
For Kristina, Michael, Ryle, English Students
Reflections on William Carlos Williams poem
A piece of jazz produces loveliness,
An off-beat, upbeat seed that’s beauty-built,
Though not repeated. Sounds and silences—
It’s pure effect you hear, tones gone, milk spilt—
Weird images arise at times, the oboe sound
Against the plink that ivory lyres might ping out—
Their plaintive glaze beside that music found
Which modern buds plug ears in to hear…what?
The wheelbarrow, the chickens—they call here—
To see with souls the melodies that mean:
That love involves our noticing the dear-
ness deep in silences, to what has been—
…so much depends upon—upon not on!
The dangle of our days is that “upon.”