Charlie Hopkins Poetry : Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star

Prayer Body Ben Harris Ate Hawks Christmas 1998 Death Is Coming For My Father's Father For My Grandfather Four Memories of Northwest Arkansas I Need To Feel You Every Moment In My Heart Inappropriate Memories Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star Love Poem to a Chinese Tallow Tree Prayer To My Guru, Sri Sri Sri Shivabalayogi Maharaj About Charlie Hopkins Art Credits

Lily of the Valley,
the Bright and Morning Star

one

In the undertow of evening I am settled around myself.

Those who have lived long enough to keep quiet
should be listened to.

In the valley between my shoulder blades I sing to my Self
where a river is running underground.

I am always kneeling.

I kneel to the one who knows but will not speak
the first word that sets these worlds in motion.

two

Every man is alone and every woman is breathing in the gulf
with schools of mullet in her tidal hair.

All night long the left hand feels in the dark for the right.

Shivabalayogi is my Guru. Carol is my wife.
This is all I know.

three

The angel of the Lord is flying again
over the Cascade Range and Hood River Valley.
Wings made of fire drop light into undergrowth.

I am a standing flame.
My fingers matchsticks all struck at once.
I am the river in the Douglas fir
the living water rising through root and trunk
taking in and giving out breath.

You are above me spread out as breath and as the prayer of breath.

Shivabalayogi I am kneeling to you.
Carol I am kneeling to you.