Andrew Lansdown: ‘The Homecoming’, ‘Canada Geese Near Canada’ and ‘Windbell’

The Homecoming

1

Restraint

As the car pulls up

the pup goes prancing to the door

to greet my grandkids.

Though I stay put, I too feel like

yapping and rolling on the floor.

2

Anticipation

I hear the dog greet

my grandchildren in the drive.

Shortly, they’ll enter

my study with jostle and shove

and paw at me for scraps of love.

Andrew Lansdown

Canada Geese Near Canada

1

A spearhead of geese,

fixed on the shaft of instinct,

and hurled by autumn—

how swiftly and straight it flies

south in the threatening skies!

2

Again, skeins of geese

cross the Wisconsin border,

wearing the sky’s fleece.

And whose heart doesn’t shiver

for want of a warmer winter?

3

If not for one thing

I’d follow those geese across

the United States …

their farthest south is far north

of where my beloved waits.

4

The Canada geese

have begun their migration.

Will it ever cease?

I gaze at their formation

with ache and resignation.

Andrew Lansdown

Windbell

1

Inexpressible—

the beauty of the windbell’s

dangle and dingle.

2

Ethereal—

the sound leaving the windbell’s

material.

3

Even in the lull—

the windbell’s paper streamer

swinging a little.

Andrew Lansdown