Wanda Phipps

Windows on the world by Wanda Phipps

Windows on the word

her strong, old face

reflected through a glass door

and my sad brown eyes

follow her

multiple images blur my vision

what delights me

is the silent movie

of motions

choreography of gestures

complexity of interactions

the everyday dance

of ritual movement

invoking the gods to speak

through subtle

hand's slow motion

progress to the mouth

lips barely parted

to accept

the sacred cigarette

off handed flick of ashes

tiny turn of head

calculated composing

a pretty picture

the particular way of walking

when you know no one's watching

a comfortable stride in comfortable boots

muscles relax and

slightly shake tension away

what frightens me

is the constant motion

what frightens me

is the possibility of stillness

edges of buildings

   surface

      of tables

          curbsides

hiding their molecular

        motion

the appearance of

contrast between

animate and inanimate

structures

            my sad eyes

        through a glass door
 

"Windows on the world" by Wanda Phipps is a poem exploring vision, states of matter, states of being, perception and reflection in many senses--seeing another in yourself and the other within you. It will be included in the collection "Mind Honey" forthcoming from Autonomedia.