Going So Far as to Suggest

" Going So Far as to Suggest "

by Suzán Jiván

Going so far as to suggest
clerical directions
for the next best step
while running through your heads
over the weekend

during an eye-opening
two weeks in a row
after being hired to do so
by using your little grey cells
and all of your larger selves

not to mention
liturgical contents
generally expressed
in unhinged contexts
as secular setups
in jest from the get-go...

It's Kind of a Tribute

" It's Kind of a Tribute "

by Suzán Jiván

It's kind of a tribute
to counterintuitive music
in concrete loops,
"I'm back, you're cute!"
slowed down and reverbed
with chants overheard,
"I'm tired of losing!"

like-minded, gone hiking
almost every time
while waiting in lines
and yelling, "I'm tired!"
for the second time
overriding first trials

not counting
more howling
the uptown
in sock-hops
who dare not
approach slowly
with the reproaches
in the quotes
of a misanthrope

within the throws
of intros and outros
like crescendos
coming home
at least as boldly
as insanely echoed
vocals of old
in devotion
bent shouldered...

Acquiring Sometime

" Acquiring Sometime "

by Suzán Jiván

Acquiring sometime
like a magical name
on a great
late painting
tossed off
over decades

as agelessly
complicated bonds
of the very positive
without trying
too hard

while floating
to the top
of depth charts
pitch shifting
and rumbling
always telling
us something

in brilliant colors
as innate layers
of vocal traces
as new strains
of clapping
games played
in mercurous
gilded ages...

Efforts Gain Urgency

" Efforts Gain Urgency "

by Suzán Jiván

Efforts gain urgency
with intensifying fervor
and fears of getting worse and worse
at the expense of the world's workers

after returning to former currencies
while underscoring shoring
up rejoinders as ivory fuels wars
in epic slaughters of botched offerings

with promises of honesty
in tough and tender dramas
rendered on the heads of apostles
mostly positive when prompted

as nominees of cult leaders
while speaking of sparking controversy
with spasmodic blue with orange
or teal with hot pink...

An Immense Misshapen Sun

" An Immense Misshapen Sun "

by Suzán Jiván

An immense misshapen sun
transformed into an aura
falling short
with no history at all
in poetry or song
after imploring
earth, wind and water

as dollops of the forgotten
frustratingly becalmed
like mystical stars of charm
either whole or in shards
flashing orange

suffused with nostalgia
in backward glances
of old masters
and the technology
of genres
operating in novel
shipyards

with hallmarks
of marshall arts
as old-school
shooting stars
captured
in stop action

inside a rotating
local-yokels' tornado
stacked with laugh tracks
meant for the whole family

measured in leaps and bounds
in the altar or convenience
while making sport of the salty
except for select songs
performed as scores forevermore
hybrid to the core...

Taking a Leap

" Taking a Leap "

by Suzán Jiván

Taking a leap
metaphysically
into a tunic
and moon mask
after going far back
into the sub-Sahara
while sky scanning
black talismanic
beaded patterns
with the smoothness
of two telescopic views
given little to do

in a huge video
while flying in and flying out
as an interactive Mountie
of Saskatchewan
in a purple fog
with plain markings
while signing his pots
like noble jars
apparent in stark
hooded parkas
for prodigies
in bristling bas relief
massive and unwieldy
like tribal leaders
draped in lions' skin...

There Are Quarrels

" There Are Quarrels "

by Suzán Jiván

There are quarrels
beyond argument
as the consequence
of farce since college
with iconic potty-
mouthed comedy
calmly, prickly
fancying a peek
at radiantly
confounding
tightly wound
images in sound...

Besides Grazing

" Besides Grazing "

by Suzán Jiván

Besides grazing
with piggybacking cattle
each balancing
far too many people
simply
not going away
while prowling
on four legs
with a medicinal
reputation

wary
of change
shaded
by earthen
foundations
sustained
by multi-
graded
man-made
acres...

In the Old Days

" In the Old Days "

by Suzán Jiván

In the old days
under the noses
down the slopes
nurtured closely
in buffer zones

kept unchecked
inequitably implemented
becoming threatened
rearing their heads...

The Ayes of Life in Disguise

" The Ayes of Life in Disguise "

by Suzán Jiván

The ayes of life in disguise
like one-of-a-kind retirees
brought back to life
on powdery wings alighting
with knowledge realigned
in dual flight
as owl eyes by night...

Never Are There Stars

" Never Are There Stars "

by Suzán Jiván

Onto the sage flats
as a river trenches
a deep meander
across a chaos of rock

no place for the faint-hearted
with almost no marked arches
or national monuments
impenetrably dark
never are there stars...

Laboring to Keep Hidden

" Laboring to Keep Hidden "

by Suzán Jiván

Laboring to keep hidden
new critical editions
as shadowy histories
of diminished vision
illegibly written

while walking upright
with a museum guide
as the central part
of a strong argument

as cheerleaders cry
from the sidelines
being threatened by
mongrelized stereotypes...

He and His Team

" He and His Team "

by Suzán Jiván

Executing the duty
he and his team
as radical
forces in the fray
prevented
from obtaining
and demanding
a say
in divine mandates
on the main highway

when tensions
come anyway
debated
as far and away
more complicated
than containment
of profound change

like a trash transfer
as a prime example
of a black banner
above a sun-
burned commander
having taken action
in unilateral capacities

slung like a sledgehammer
busted up in regular runs
to the ultimate dump
with a malfunctioning
claw in front
of mind-numbing
corruption run amok

taken at face value
supermodels
then and now
prefixed with lateral
aphrodisiacs
on moon landings
come upside down

as opposites attract
like an ecofriendly
letter after sigma
left wanting to feel
without being stingy
smitten instantly...

Considering Using a Decoy

" Considering Using a Decoy "

by Suzán Jiván

Considering using a decoy
like a fancy lawyer
from counselors.org
with splotchy giant jaws

as beginnings at tango
lacking in finesse
when fungus
strikes again

getting lots of attention
in bustling main sections
with problems in memory
cluttered and dense

teeming in intensity
at odds with the scholarly
as the weather cooperated
on the Great Lawn at the park
unfolding with a soulful élan...

Ramparts and Castles

" Ramparts and Castles "

by Suzán Jiván

Ramparts and castles
drawn up as maps with gaps
turning out to be lavish
bell towers above the apse
creating the effect of balance
supported by the masses
holding tablets and a chalice
with immediate impact

like perfectly matching stained glass
with illuminated manuscripts
standing out from planned backgrounds harkening back
to long-mastered hand crafts
luminous and tangible
as "The Adoration of the Lamb"...

At Some Point

" At Some Point "

by Suzán Jiván

At some point
starting sharply
and colossally
by constantly
checking an arm
for the tyranny
of a clock
like Yo-Yo Ma
replete with apologies
for a late start
just you watch

after taking aim at Madonna
and trying out a new face
as compensation
for burning without a flame
while protecting the chaste
on a smoky gray stage
mirrored and concave...

Jawbone to Collarbone

" Jawbone to Collarbone "

by Suzán Jiván

Jawbone to collarbone
snazzily panning for gold
as amalgams of jazz
hanging in the air
with a handful
of Belles of the ball for short
being bolstered by chords
of long before
like social norms to a fault

slowing to a crawl
after a long walk
some, but not all
moving underwater
never absorbing
prisons or coffins
for tubby lawyers
connected to porn
as orphans
of nonconformists

taunted by carnivores
using the royal, "we"
with the heart finesse
winning as high-bid tricks
like harbingers of hybrids
switching easily
between rapping and singing...

Faraway Stories

" Faraway Stories "

by Suzán Jiván

Turned friend
coming back
as redacted gaffes
when granted anonymity

in altered meanings
albeit reluctantly
after speaking
too freely

with immediacy
in background briefings
being held in installs at airports
as faraway stories...

No Larger than the Palm of a Hand

" No Larger than the Palm of a Hand "

by Suzán Jiván

No larger than the palm of a hand
after crossing the Atlantic
becoming blanched
by a blasted landscape

previously unimagined
in eyelet patterns
honed as unknowable
knowns of no one

supposedly broached
like patterns of stones
opulently set
without exception
into cultural gems

projected into absentia
while lending
works from the permanent
collection
always performance ready...

North on state Route 67

" North on state Route 67 "

by Suzán Jiván

North on state Route 67
intrusive igneous, schist
quarried at Sacred Heart
like course conglomerates
differing greatly in origin

chewed down through St. Cloud
in outcrops just upstream
as unconformity of northern shores
with major and minor faults
interbedded with basalt

dipping toward the sill
beyond the lava
in quartzite crops
while sinking
to the bottom
still hot

overlying rhyolite
in intrusive dikes
like porcupines
of undying dolomite

much mining of iron
from Niagara to Pembine
exposed like gneiss
along highly-prized shorelines

cross bedded ripple marks
from lighter to darker
terrestrial silt
since thinned...

Grazes the Higher Slopes

" Grazes the Higher Slopes "

by Suzán Jiván

Grazes the higher slopes
during the dry season
polygamous browser
exclusive harem

dark facial blaze
stilettos rising
directly over eyes
bare glandular patch

bachelor herd
female herd
large reserves
interspersed

mineral licks
knock kneed
rump, limbs
chin, lips

remotest regions
captive breeding
small dewlap at jaw
black garter on foreleg

horns equally long
highly nomadic
water-bearing
receptive female

faint ruddy flank
rained and retreated
former range
long narrow face

loping along
migratory
high shouldered
long glossy coat

dark shadow
Chad to Sudan
Kenya to Tanzania
forming bracket shapes

blotches
upper forelegs
greatly elongated
normal forehead

offspring born
high-fiber
low protein grass
large aggregates

grading into pale flanks
deep chest
long trim legs
pronounced sheen

uniform weak
select green leaf
herds of yearlings
once teeming...

Hip-Pumping Studs

" Hip-Pumping Studs "

by Suzán Jiván

Hip-pumping studs
in cheek-baring chaps
snaky and acrobatic
hankering to dance

practiced internationally
outside academies
while siddling off into the wings
with quotients of preciosity

always maintaining a flow of motion
as opposed to varied legato
in full-length culotte costume
featuring rising singers
lighted atmospherically...

Feat on the Floor

" Feat on the Floor "

by Suzán Jiván

Feat on the floor
after adding a dancer
as a longtime sidekick
treated like a triumph
uncompromised
and ready to bite
while doing hand jive
just beneath the lights

being kept flying
by songs of undying
anticlimaxes
as opposing desires
from above and behind
with a reliance
on secret findings
well worth reminding...

For Id Companions

" For Id Companions "

by Suzán Jiván

Something of a paradox
capering around the stage
like overgrown teenagers
with smoke billowing on cue

microphones used as maypoles
never crossing over fingers splayed
legs bent and braced
becoming hidden under thick manes

kept in place
by straps beneath chins
as wigs detach
kicked and toed around

in the foreground
fans blowing
through thick white hair
muscle and panache

mixed with wisecracks
taken aback as too sassy
like rolled up masks
for Id companions...

Black-Crowned Night Heron

" Black-Crowned Night Heron "

by Suzán Jiván

Black-crowned
night heron
a single,
" kwauk "
called
most
frequently
heard
at nighttime
while fishing
and flying
roosting in trees
come daylight
entirely white
below...

The Staunchest Defender

" The Staunchest Defender "

by Suzán Jiván

The staunchest defender
nearly verbatim
poet's stateliness
annotated in Arcadia

superhumanly perfect
as realms of ecstasy
drawn extensively
with a new sensibility
foundation and stability

human beauty, fecundity
like the second coming
springing up
in poetical moments
as noteworthy echoes...

Open Calls Haiku

" Open Calls Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

Archival surveys
like positive departures
non-profit spaces

II

Polycultural
inventively erotic
squat and muscular

III

With a teardrop beard
essentially reactive
established, scattered

IV

Convening again
skim gleaming with rubbed-in oil
continent leaping

V

Ancient ivory
spanning geographic turf
sometimes obliquely

VI

Tackling censorship
splayed forelegs, struggling to stand
during open calls...

Accompaniment Haiku

" Accompaniment Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

While going gaga
with a likability
busily plotted

II

Politely naughty
off-kilter, narrow hallways
trying for noir

III

Awkwardly talking
in tiara and lipstick
deeply committed

IV

Accompaniment
rosy, happy family
limited palette

V

Dynamic shadings
interspersed with the sacred
emanating waves

VI

Soaring male chorus
anonymously mournful
dense shimmers, whisper...

In the Interim Haiku

" In the Interim Haiku "

I

In the interim
a sentimental story
spoken long before

II

Planning carefully
without creating havoc
in a packing crate

III

Sharp-witted, sharp-toothed
shouted out into the clouds
captured attention

IV

Practically dreading
elaborate tick-tack-toes
single, "X" and "0's"

V

Not enough hard drive
confused shtick and attitudes
a painting looted

VI

A puff of white tulle
minor and silly sounding
whooping openly

VII

Grand opening splash
whirring sounds in the background
triumphant climax

VIII

What "it" means to "be"
featuring online streaming
with murky stirrings

IX

Cinched visual wit
simplicity with meaning
vehement evenings...

The Brass Latch

" The Brass Latch "

by Suzán Jiván

Maybe
it's un-
intentional
and some-
what anti-
intellectual
or perhaps
even un-
conventional
as well how-
ever dis-
played
in a large
glass case
so close
to the ground
that you have
to crouch down
in order to open
the brass latch
of the hinged lid
while convulsing
with each syllable...

Particularly Fitting

" Particularly Fitting "

by Suzán Jiván

A particularly fitting addition
for an inaugural exhibition
with greater tactility
in contrast to near and far
more fluid than solid
resembling sea charts
with spreading horizons
radical or not
remaining fairly constant
while on a trip to Mars...

Seabird Haiku

" Seabird Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

A rare visitor
feeds on squid and fish at night
seen following ships

II

Occurs far off shore
often rests on the water
remote islands, breed

III

Black mantle, wings back
an even rarer vagrant
a single egg laid...

Havoc Haiku

" Havoc Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

Handmade attractions
particularly haptic
transporting you back

II

Ashore to face off
wreak havoc on history
fingerprinted whorls

III

Rag-tag talking back
stick a whale knife in the ribs
lives locked in limbo

IV

Irritated, bored
blinking overlong lashes
hand-picked, back-lit tails...

In a Lineup

" In a Lineup "

by Suzán Jiván

A complete overhaul
as preparatory
as prehistory
while needing
to spend time
in a lineup

about to vanish
by shifting the balance
with exposed strands
brisk but flexibly embellished
lively and inventive

big subjects
in little words
quietly assured
softly slippery
like lithe techniques
of abrupt vibrancy...

Fleetingly Crinkly

" Fleetingly Crinkly "

by Suzán Jiván

Jury-rigged
news releases
fleetingly crinkly
zeroes reigned in
by imperfect tens

slippery when wet
unwritten, unskilled
puckishly unpublished
and disgruntled
like floor runners

with lessons from the den
while lighting cigarettes
behind semi-circular desks
in poetic recitation
as legacies become questioned...

Cricket Haiku

" Cricket Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

Males sing mating songs
remarkably velvety
ridges of forewings...

Mayfly Haiku

" Mayfly Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

Soft body, long legs
typically two pairs of wings
upwards and outwards

II

Swarms at dawn and dusk
surviving for just one day
females drop their eggs

III

Three terminal tails
submerged plants and animals
sub-imago stage

IV

Leaving the water
revealing, final molting
shiny-winged adults...

Onyx Obelisk Haiku

" Onyx Obelisk Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

Onyx obelisk
penetrating white sky lines
arabesques in black

II

Inscribed milky white
overhanging ebony
sparkling lettering

III

Elaborate fonts
boldly stroking episodes
intimate imprints...

Spotted Skunk Haiku

" Spotted Skunk Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

Eastern spotted skunk
Algonquian Indian name
polecat, woods pussy

II

Short legs, broad rear end
bottoms of feet are hairless
heels touching the ground

III

Long claws on forefeet
prowling beneath spreading trees
adapted digging

IV

Self-defense weapon
musk sprayed from their anal glands
white on black pelages

V

Alarmed stamping feet
snarling and chattering teeth
contracting scent ducts

VI

Stiff legged, kept at bay
vile-smelling, nauseating
prominent white blaze

VII

Tends to just one den
placid and somewhat sluggish
nocturnal nature

VIII

Discharging its musk
sulphur-alcohol compound
running down the back

IX

Shows up frequently
walking deliberately
clumsy galloping

X

Acute sense of touch
feed heavily on insects
dig out bumblebees

XI

Catching and eating
yellowjacket colonies
pine needles, leaf duff

XII

Dens beneath buildings
under overhanging banks
streams of pungent musk

Diving Ducks Haiku

" Diving Ducks Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

Chunky diving ducks
staying further out from shore
strongly lobed hind toes

II

Widely spaced apart
smaller bodies of water
speed up for take off...

Mourning Dove, Rock Dove

" Mourning Dove, Rock Dove "

by Suzán Jiván

Prolific breeders
flashing when flying
swerving and diving
hints of purplish pink
whistling, winging
plaintive, "cooo, coo, coo"
multiple broods...

Bulrush Haiku

" Bulrush Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

A huge breeding range
been first domesticated
in all of the strains

II

In crotches of trees
while laying one egg per day
iridescent drake

III

Double-note whistle
puddle duck and dabbling duck
seeds of bulrushes...

Downy Haiku

" Downy Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

Launching pumping wings
courtship, nesting, rivalry
wing-beating flurry

II

Excavating trees
sharp, stout bill, chisel-like tip
wood chips littering

III

Climbing, hammering
exploratory tapping
wood-borer's channel...

Doe-Dropping Haiku

" Doe-Dropping Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

Strictly plant eating
consuming lilies, lichens
wild mushrooms, fruiting

II

Days of gestation
does dropping twins or triplets
fawn born fully furred

III

Sunlit foliage
nursing immediately
walking in hours

IV

In sight and by scent
instinctively stripping, leaves
peaking rut, buck rub...

Harem Haiku

" Harem Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

Exclusive harems
browsing foliage and herbs
hearing female herds

II

Upright stilettos
grazing green, rainy season
rising over eyes...

Nightspot Haiku

" Nightspot Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

Sit down and order
where shoes listen and coins kill
leaves time to relax

II

Daytime stop of mine
down the block in a nightspot
what I really want

III

Describing the past
not as easy to answer
antithesis still

IV

Like a small village
belonging to at least two
comfortable roosts...

Underlying Haiku

" Underlying Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

Underlying growth
totally reconnected
in rock-star costumes

II

Quasi-classical
becoming somewhat lame
stubbornly himself

III

Fiancé tribute
off-the-beat delivery
lied-like tunefulness

IV

Intimate facets
doo-wop-tinged leverages
supposed to turn pop

V

Would count for little
pressed tenderly to the cheek
lying back to back

VI

Something else happens
shifting pelvis, rippling spine
perception, response...

Mojo Haiku

" Mojo Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

A spooky goth girl
revisiting the creepy
more romantic lives

II

White as caulk and long
plucked from a soap opera
willingly home-free

III

Continued respect
academic projection
got her mojo back...

Thistle Haiku

" Thistle Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

Thoughts of the thistle
conspicuous spiny wings
since antiquity

II

Like tenacity
derisively prickly leafed
spine-tipped, stiffly ridged...

Sandpiper Haiku

" Sandpiper Haiku "

by Suzán Jiván

I

Sandpiper haiku
averaging higher-pitched
streaked sides and bellies

II

Nesting on muskeg
capable of wintering
clipped and at one pitch...