FLYING OVER NORTH HOLLAND

Flying over Holland, I see how the land 

Tilts and drains in a vee towards the great river.

The Amsterdam bridge over the Zuiderzee 

is like a green eel seeking a distant shore, 

connecting the north with the south.

The original shores of the land, 

curved and rounded by tides 

speak of an older drowned story.

The old and the new topography 

spar with roads laid out across polders

following the cartographer’s dream. 

The concept of north and south wins

over stream and bend. 

When the plane wing 

dips towards the edge of night, 

the horizon tilts and forgets 

to hold onto the curtain of day, 

& stars nervously edge into articulation. 

The islands of North Holland, 

like the first statues of women, 

talismans of Venus. Fertility goddesses.

We are flying home soon after the solstice 

with the sun, with the sun. 

Theoretically, by the clock, 

our flight only takes hours. 

I marvel at the patterns by the shore, 

the circling of ships about their business. 

The day turns in towards itself, 

aspiring to the light of the sun, 

the light, the light, the light of the sun.

28 June, over Holland

Rev. 2023

First draft: 28 June Flying over the north of Holland, I see a vet towards the river the bridge that crosses the Zuiderzee is like an eel seeking a shore connecting north Holland with the south, the older land, not in straight rows, roads laid out across polders, follow the cartographers dream. The concepts of north and south over stream and bend. When the wing tips towards the night, the horizon forgets to hold onto the curtain of day, stars nervously edge into articulation. The islands of North Holland, like the first statues of women, all talismans of Venus. We are flying home soon after the solstice with the sun, with the sun, theoretically, our flight only takes hours by clock time. I marvel at the patterns by the shore, the circling of ships about their business. The day turns towards itself, aspiring to the light of the sun, the light, the light, the light of the sun.