A Trio by Joy Kogawa

In the Forest
Joy Kogawa

in the forest the tree
perfectly balances its hours
in the time of its brances
no branch is accidental

in the forest our arms
perfectly balance the breeze
in the time of our departures
no leaving is accidental

in autumn
in the bare room
by a crack in the window
a curtain moves

as the woodsman arrives
precisely beyond time

§

Old Man in the Library

old now and
nameless for me this
man in the library

like a beheaded flower
he blooms here briefly
in my mind's bowl
his stems leaves roots
elsewhere in a room perhaps
nearby

fingers of both hands
cut to the knuckles
he adjusts his glasses
smooths his newspaper
opens and closes his mouth
making short clucking sounds

patiently slowly he
tries several times to
turn the page

§

Finally That There Is

no corner left in which to hide
the mouse, the cat
the empty room
the one defence left
is not to move at all
not to write
not to think
not to send you this letter

finally in the cat's jaws
i remember the secret door
listen for your tunnelling
realise finally that
you are the cat
you are the mouse
you are the room without doors
you are the secret tunnel

finally this fatal defence
fangs sharp with belief
back arched and clawing
the heart's walls