Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Jane Gibian

small adjustments

small adjustments

small adjustments

a brutal wind      sheets of bark
turning through the air
everywhere bull-ants and the smaller

scurriers of leaf litter
build their tower of words
searching for length along the spine

can you will the sky to clear
push away cloud with a breath
a wound in the eucalypt bleeding

red glass asks for small adjustments
to reason      the older wound closed over
into a knobbled knee-cap

imperceptible changes       a spider’s skeleton
shed with care held firmly
in the mind     lobes of ruby grapefruit

each segment a glistening thought
amongst the desire     to hold
multiples

buds swelling
at the stubs of gnarled arms
the louche calls of twilight
Close

small adjustments

a brutal wind      sheets of bark
turning through the air
everywhere bull-ants and the smaller

scurriers of leaf litter
build their tower of words
searching for length along the spine

can you will the sky to clear
push away cloud with a breath
a wound in the eucalypt bleeding

red glass asks for small adjustments
to reason      the older wound closed over
into a knobbled knee-cap

imperceptible changes       a spider’s skeleton
shed with care held firmly
in the mind     lobes of ruby grapefruit

each segment a glistening thought
amongst the desire     to hold
multiples

buds swelling
at the stubs of gnarled arms
the louche calls of twilight

small adjustments

Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère