Tom Koontz
Poetry Is the Life of the Soul
in the backyard, lingerie
lifts to the sun like
billows of a trombone
at a choir picnic
on the porch five
Fisherwomen (Charm
and Caution, Get The
Job Done, Shining
and Delight) down
some fast talk or
fan their long slow tales
call to them from
the alley: "Hey! Do
you all need some
bait today?" their waves
roll like a chord
across the grass
and push the flowers
higher up the fence
the air's awash
with scent of red,
the light athrum
upon the swell
the choir gives up
another shout
another horn
sets sail
and now the very
house itself
is ringing
like a skull
Tom Koontz, An Ordinary World.