Billy and Willy Trip Through The Daffodils

A cento poem derived from the lines of Shakespeare and Billy Collins



dverse oln







it was a day in june all lawn and sky
when daisies pied and violets blue
and maidens bleach their summer smocks
usually you appear at the front door
when you hear my footsteps on the gravel

there is a slight breeze
just enough to bend
the yellow tulips on their stems
sounds and sweet airs that give delight
the cuckoo then on every tree mocks
the quiet of the day far from the roar of the sun


i was too knotted up with questions
i am consumed by the wish
to spend the rest of the day
sniffing the jasmine vine

the heads of roses begin to droop
i take another sip of wine
i remember a fly kept landing on my wrist
and i wanted nothing more than to be in the moment

so let us slice a banana uncap the jam
they are not swallowing a vitamin like us
those antipodal oddballs
rather they are smoking a cigarette
under a half moon or just now
sliding under the covers
curled up in a fresh pair of cotton pajamas

make me a willow cabin at your gate
embroidered all with leaves of myrtle
undo the buttons on your white blouse
and then holding hands
slip into the deeper valley of night
i want to carry you
the way voices are said to carry over water
Find tongues in trees
Sermons in stones and good in everything