Poem of the Month - October 2012

Azulejos: Ceramic Tiles

This is the geometry we want
to make of our lives: an intertwining
pattern that knots its way across the tiles,
its intricate spread, how your eye
traces the curves and angles along
walls and floors and ceilings full
of the complexity of enduring,
deep ochre and rose and indigo.
Palm-sized tiles, Handprints.
What is ground, what is figure,
we can't be sure; under a steady gaze,
each reverses into the other. How we travel together,
and apart; towards each other and into two
infinitely different
horizons.

Horizons
infinitely different
and apart, towards each other and into two,
each reverses into the other. How we travel together,
we can't be sure. Under a steady gaze,
what is ground, what is figure?
Palm-sized tiles. Handprints,
deep ochre and rose and indigo.
The complexity of enduring.
Walls and floors and ceilings
trace the curves and angles along
an intricate spread, how your eye
patterns the knots across the tiles.
To make of our lives: an intertwining -
this is the geometry we want.

From MARROW, WILLOW by Maureen Hynes (2011)