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fishtank 

i am a seeker in robes on the narrow road

to a tiny monastery set in zen-pebbled lands

i’m paused on a queer little bridge  

staring  down at the painted-on stream

that wends its way through sea-shell  gardens 

while bubbles rise past slow-flittering creatures

 - but i dream beyond this all-inclosing world 

to the surrounding  sphere    middle empire

of slow-spinning blades hanging in space  

huge walls adorned with fantastic art

mountain ranges of chairs   tables like altars 

where ghostly seated shapes converse

in a vague clatter of metal and instruction

the resolute murmurings of fable

- and oh   i dream beyond even that dreaming

whole swathes of castles as far as an horizon

flowers     trees    fabulous singing animals

white clouds drifting perfect in blue    evening

a moon  stars   the outer darkness that fades

to daylight   and again  sometimes baubling  rain 

Bill Tibben

1 waiting for takeaway in the  

  dragon paradise   kincumber