Mare Liberum
Solo & Collaborative Poetry with Jacob D. Salzer
Published Work (Linked-Verse)
The following is a selection of my solo and collaborative linked-verse published in journals.
All poems are copyrighted by their authors respectively.
Nascence
wheat stalks
the shadow of Ceres
growing taller
Autumnus gathers
the last harvest
a distant spark
Anima Mundi awakens
creation’s soul
Alemona's song
a fetus uncurls
in her dream
a sea horse hovers
in Salicia’s kelp forest
time-warp...
a worm leaves
Pomona's apple
Michelle Hyatt, Callander, Ontario
Jacob D. Salzer, Vancouver, Washington
Publication credit: Frogpond, Winter 46:1 2023
***
Traces
melting snow
secrets left
on a log...
the silent witness
of lichen (Michelle)
algae
in the coral reef
waves of moonlight . . .
will you appear again
in my dreams (Jacob)
Michelle Hyatt, Canada
Jacob D. Salzer, USA
Publication credit: Presence, issue #73, 2022
***
Meandering Notes (a rengay)
Bourbon Street
jazz flows from
every doorway DBH
summer concert —
lemonade poured over ice JDS
night breeze
from the corner bar
soprano sax RLM
a twist in my espresso
Café Du Monde DBH
Beethoven's last note
the full moon settles
in a cup of tea JDS
bedtime serenade
a warm milk dream RLM
Deborah Burke Henderson, Ashland, MA, USA
Jacob D. Salzer, Vancouver, WA, USA
Richard L. Matta, San Diego, CA, USA
Publication credit: Tandem: a rengay journal, Winter issue 2022
***
Twin Flames (a Rokku)
Written by: Michelle Hyatt & Jacob Salzer
Published: 02 June 2022
primordial hum
in the Buddha garden…
morning rain
lost in plum blossoms
the sound of a bee
tupelo wine
my sudden laughter
as we tango
a pause in our footsteps
on the wooden bridge
dormant evergreens
beneath the weight
of the Cold Moon
deep snow in the city
the homeless man's dream
***
morning traffic
outside the coffee shop
two friends chatting
a balmy breeze, your scent
through an open window
on a park bench
where lovers once kissed
rustling leaves
a spotless fawn listens
in a field of golden wheat
Gilmour's guitar solo
the eagle's long flight
over a sunlit stream
spilling over the edge
the youth of a thousand years
***
bear claw scratches
in the old oak tree…
traces through my past
into the deep cave
echoes of a storm
gilded age
she changes her name
to Moonchild
loud summer wedding
the march of ants
on temple steps
signs point the way
to purification
steep mountain trail…
the monk's silence
***
rock concert
the river ice melts
into a song
from the center of two flames
midnight blue
our first hug
on a long journey
the blur of a train
dissolving in the overstory
all the straight edges
oat stalks sway
around a rusted tractor
Harvest Moon
evanescent shadows
a turn in the labyrinth
***
steady drumbeat…
rumbles
through a canyon
a trumpet solo's fading note
summer sunset
sunken treasure
kept in eternity
the day’s remains
grandma’s ashes…
the first day of spring
in a meadow
of daffodils
will we meet again?
dim lights on the horizon
the endless sea
Michelle Hyatt, Canada
Jacob D. Salzer, USA
Under the Bashō 2022 – Linked Forms, Sequences and Contrapuntal Poetry
Link: Under the Basho - Twin Flames (a Rokku)
***
Regeneration (A Tanka Sequence)
a Spotted Owl
perched
on a bare branch—
my footsteps lost
in forest darkness
sun salutations
I stand with flowers
and trees
at my fingertips
a robin's-egg blue sky
Jacob D. Salzer, USA
Michelle Hyatt, Canada
Publication credit: Under the Bashō 2022 – Linked Forms, Sequences and Contrapuntal Poetry
***
Faint Whispers (A Tankako)
dawnlight
droplets of dew
on pink plum blossoms MH
garden pond
a frog turns into stone JS
dusty mirror
another déjà vu
in V formation MH
lights out in the valley
the elder tells his story JS
soft lullaby
as she cradles her baby
the scent of honey MH
summer sunrise
father sips a cup of coffee JS
warm layers
the first snow
bathed in moonlight MH
under one blanket
rose oil on her skin JS
rising incense…
two lovers share
their secrets MH
morning fog
the forest fills with birdsong JS
call to prayer
my skirt fringes become one
with seagrass MH
combing the old stray cat
winter wind JS
faint whispers
the subway rattles
in the dark JS
plucking a guitar string
the room fills with tension MH
wedding day
a butterfly flies between
the groom and the bride JS
under the silk chuppah
candles glimmer in a breeze MH
glimpsed behind
drifting storm clouds
harvest moon JS
pumpkin patch
so many faces in the crowd MH
orange streetlight
a wrinkled leaf falls
without a sound JS
melting into a shadow
the doe’s eyes MH
half-open window
an orb spider rebuilds
her web MH
a dreamcatcher spins
above his pillow JS
nascent breath
in Sakura blossoms…
the birth of a star MH
spring evening
the child scribbles her first poem JS
Michelle Hyatt, Canada (MH)
Jacob D. Salzer, USA (JS)
April 22, 2021
Publication credit: Under the Bashō 2022 – Linked Forms, Sequences and Contrapuntal Poetry
***
After the Wedding (rengay)
fresh orange juice
sunrise spills
into the kitchen (Mary)
patio party chit-chat
clouds sail across my sangria (j rap)
drops of moonlight
on the India Pale Ale
cool jazz (Jacob)
fingers on piano keys
the sound of falling stars (Mary)
rainbow
I bite into
the sparkling snow cone (j rap)
a long pause between us
aurora borealis (Jacob)
Mary McCormack, Sheboygan, WI
j rap, Santa Fe, NM
Jacob Salzer, Vancouver, WA
Publication credit: Hedgerow | Vines #5, 2021
***
Reflection (rengay)
an'ya
Jacob Salzer
kaleidoscope
this time in its mirrors
shards of summer
old city park . . .
a trail of broken beer bottles
beachcombing
a sea glass nugget
warms my palm
full moon
a moth bumps into
the hospital window
mother's reflection
in a garden gazing ball
his steady eye
behind the camera lens
a beam of light
Wales Haiku Journal
https://www.waleshaikujournal.com/reflection-anya-salzer
***
Reverse Migration (rengay)
the swallowtail
finally passes me
traffic
zoom meditation . . .
the silence between stars
on opposite sides
of the gas cloud . . .
them and the cops
long shadows
against the border wall . . .
refugees
off the beaten path
no reception
reverse migration
a crack in the concrete
widens
Jim Rodriguez
Jacob Salzer
Publication credit: Frogpond, Vol. 43:3, Fall 2020
Unspoken Stories (tan renga sequence)
all that's left
of my dream journal
morning rain
pushing through the mud
a single lotus
---
gaps in the conversation
the homeless man's
missing teeth
unspoken stories...
hiding behind a forced smile
---
teaching me
to be still...
deep forest
my chanting becomes
evening birdsong
Jacob Salzer
Michelle Hyatt
Publication credit: Under the Basho, 2020
***
Inheritance (experimental rengay)
whispers
through the branches...
my mother's voice
catkins blowing in the breeze
an orb spider weaves her web
grandma's blanket...
I wrap myself
in silence
in the ancient ways
you teach me to walk
lightly...
stairs spiraling into darkness…
the roots of my family tree
buried bones
deep inside the earth
a faint vibration
Jacob Salzer
Michelle Hyatt
Publication credit: Under the Basho, 2020
***
ripples from a drop of water (rengay)
quietude—
the sound of a cough
disturbs the blossoms
ripples from a drop of water
the virus spreads
craving to be held
—a sparrow pecks
bread crumbs
old house...
the overgrowth of a plant
against the window
to talk to her pet dog
she removes her flu mask
social media—
the constant hum
of bees
Réka Nyitrai, Romania
Jacob Salzer, USA
Publication Credit: Under the Basho, 2020
***
Great Grandma (solo linked-verse)
in silence
the old woman’s head
sinks to her chest
vacant eyes
words escape
great grandma
whispering: be careful
sound of a door closing
telling stories
she stops
mid-sentence
theater of the absurd
she never liked politics
cracking jokes
great grandma laughs
one last time
lights out
the ceiling fan
keeps spinning
Publication Credit: Under the Basho, 2019
***
bottom of the 9th (solo linked-verse)
bottom of the 9th
drops of moonlight
on the pitcher's face
strangers huddled together
without names
fly-out
a baseball player
waves at the moon
under bright lights
the constant hum of conversation
a hushed silence
after the pitcher throws
another strike
SMACK! the baseball disappears
into the crowd
sudden downpour
a thousand pairs of hands
clapping
Publication Credit: Under the Basho, 2019
***
Black Ice (solo linked-verse)
black ice
I drive over
the moon
vape smoke escapes
her pale white face
early morning
the prisoner’s breath lingers
above barbed-wire
tire chains left behind
on the narrow highway
Christmas shopping
she tries on
another necklace
gold light shimmers
across the water
breaking news
in the old t.v.
drifting clouds
trying to sleep
in the hospital lobby
smell of coffee
I take another bite
of a salad
strangers walking briskly
through the garden
receding
deep into the night
sound of sirens
seagulls calling
above dim streetlamps
dementia . . .
waves washing away
footprints in the sand
migratory patterns
in the wings of a butterfly
check-mate
my neighbor gives me
another cookie
new cracks form
in the marble steps
heavy rain
sunlight pierces through
broken thoughts
solving the last word
of a crossword puzzle
early morning . . .
I light another journal
on fire
headlines trickle down
a vacant driveway
Publication Credit: Under the Basho, 2018
***
under the weathered bridge (rengay)
abandoned newspaper
the untold stories
of rain (JS)
writer's block
another glass of water (NK)
time and waves
have smoothed our edges
moonstone (CB)
under the weathered bridge
a stream of trash (JS)
forgiveness
the color of starfish
in shallows (NK)
a matter of life in death
the dampness of leaves (CB)
Jacob Salzer—Vancouver, WA USA (JS)
Nicholas Klacsanzky—Edmonds, WA USA (NK)
Clayton Beach—Portland, OR USA (CB)
Publication Credit: Skylark 5:2, Winter 2017