DS Maolalai has been nominated seven times for Best of the Net and three times for the Pushcart Prize. His poetry has been released in two collections, "Love is Breaking Plates in the Garden" (Encircle Press, 2016) and "Sad Havoc Among the Birds" (Turas Press, 2019).
what a mistake!
this thing – keeping arts
out of politics. as if they weren't both ways
to make shapes of the world
and ideas we find
thereabouts.
ideas in everything –
in trite lines
about flowers.
ideas in everything –
in policy
and tort.
and out here
everything is beautiful. trees, full sail
in living leaf, and the sun
blowing through them,
the water
held in cupped
hands. the air again
all shadows and green,
enough to make dust
come alive. it doesn't
blow, now, no;
it sits quietly
and sleepy as a cat,
so breathy and gentle. cars roll,
coughing
green smoke. shirt sleeves shift,
and the air is cool
when you step in a lee
of anything, building
or greenery. the sun
shines raindrops, sparking
like a good older brother
letting a sister
play with his favourite toy. the city; softness
and a feeling
like walking. and of course,
then jealousy, burning
on an easy city, deciding
finally
to take it.
The ring.
I consider the thought –
frankly, I'm considering proposing;
but my girlfriend has taste
and I'm not the most prosperous.
what is the etiquette
to haggle then over
the ring?
.
.
.
.
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