This, My Columbia

This, My Columbia
... The Columbia River

" Cosmos Cascading " (10x23)

" Cosmos Cascading " (10x23)
August, 2011 id3300

" Blacking Streaking Black Red " ( Right Corner View )

" Blacking Streaking Black Red " ( Right Corner View )
August, 2011 id3286

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Now hear this! To be a poet, one must strive to pose in dramatic fashion; that is, to stand at times, looking into the distance as if having a vision.



















The poet must think of oneself
as a peddler of pathos; as an
almost tragic figure, steeped
in the deepest irony and aloof
of the merely mortal and
pedestrian "poetry business"-

Cavorting of course with gods
and the ancient muse of Greece
and Rome, being of a much
higher plane and loftier endeavor -

Forsooth! ~ sayeth Jay Licata ~

( hmmmm...got my eye on a
black cape; nah, wouldn't
play well in Bellevue )

Jay Licata Haiku 999


Cat black sits silent
Spring drops glistening his coat
Warm rain mulling thoughts

Jay Licata Haiku 888 ( In Full Bloom )



In full bloom am i
Passing this way once again
Back unto the stars

Friday, March 23, 2007

Jay Licata Haiku 777


Slate gray Northwest May
April sun in the drizzle
Wild flowers and frost

Jay Licata Tanka 777


Slate gray Northwest May
April sun in the drizzle
Wild flowers and frost
Barred owls in the moonlight
Ice water down the mountain

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Lady in the Movie House


During a moment
In the darkened movie house
Of the showing of "The Postman”
A tear drop swept and wept
Down her sculpted cheek

And kissed away tasted,
This moist jewel
In the mind’s eye,
Shown a prism
Through which could be seen,
The resplendent beauty of her soul

And blended with dew drops,
Rain drops and grace,
Glimmered and swirled
Evening's early light sky,
Rose dusking the edges
Of her beautiful face.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Jay Licata Haiku 555

Cold morning first job
paper girl and paper boy
Sunday's news heavy

Jay Licata Tanka 555



Cold morning first job
Paper girl and paper boy
Sunday's news heavy
Brother nine red hair girl ten
Dog Dakota, Mother boss

Jay Licata Haiku 444

Spring songs of Orca
San Juans to Cardigan Bay
Falcons skim the quay

Jay Licata Tanka 444



Spring songs of Orca
San Juans to Cardigan Bay
Falcons skim the quay
As goes the Orca goes man
Drinking rosewater and tears

Jay licata Haiku 333


Poet on Grub Street
Suffer rhymes of sweet madness
Winter leapfrogs Spring

Jay Licata Tanka 333


Poet on Grub Street
Suffer rhymes of sweet madness
Winter leapfrogs Spring
First lyrics heard from the womb
Now songs from the other side

Jay Licata Haiku 222


Oh Missoula Lake
Late Spring geologic time
Her ice dam broken

Jay Licata Tanka 222



Oh Missoula Lake
Late Spring geologic time
Her ice dam broken
Swept down the Columbia
Sculpting Washington's belly

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Jay Licata Haiku 99


Windmills in the snow
Memory ice on Winter's pond
Fields of red Tulips

Jay Licata Tanka 99


Windmills in the snow
Memory ice on Winter's pond
Felds of red Tulips
Chocolate soft on the tongue
Warm water two cats waiting home

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Jay Licata Haiku 88



Yellow dress woman
Fresh cotton Sunday morning
In a Kansas Spring

Jay Licata Tanka 88



Yellow dress woman
Fresh cotton Sunday morning
In a Kansas Spring
Wheat stone church choir girls sing
Prairie lightning amber gold

Jay licata Tanka 88b




Yellow dress woman
Fresh cotton Sunday morning
In a Kansas Spring
Wheat stone church choir girls sing
Amber gold fields of Eden

Jay Licata Haiku 77



Old hands soft kitten
Blue sky morning first warm rain
Spring love Winter loss

Jay Licata Haiku 66


Grandfather long dead
Shave and a haircut six bits
Flower bed dreamer

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Jay Licata Haiku 55


Fall's last Swan lingers
Circling her ice water pond
Wreathed leaves frozen brown

Jay Licata Tanka 55


Fall's last Swan lingers
Circling her ice water pond
Wreathed leaves frozen brown
He sleeps nearby she waits old
Love's last Winter's quiet sound