After earning a Master's Degree from the University of Illinois, Joe joined the U of I staff as editor of the International Journal of Accounting. He then served an internship in museum public relations at the Smithsonian Institution and directed public relations for three major nonprofit organizations in the Chicago region. Currently retired, he has embarked on a new career as a stand up comedian, "The Oldest Man in the Room." He concentrates on writing. He has won several poetry awards. His poems and stories have appeared in many literary journals.
See Joe's poetry blog here.
| | The Photographer Takes the Morning
by Joe Larkin
Setting out at dawn
to capture the essence of the day
he reads the light with jeweler's eyes
waits for the right instant
then seals the silver sky up in a box.
As the sun ascends the sky
he takes the trees,
the salmon puffs of clouds,
and packs them in his box
around the silver sky.
Soon it's filled with morning,
sky,
sun,
trees,
and salmon clouds.
The breeze, the heady scents of life,
the morning songs of birds,
the warmth of sun upon his face,
these he cannot take;
his box will not contain them.
He must conjure them in memory
when home in the dark
he opens up his box
and slowly they appear
up through the mystic waters
the sky, blue above
where stars lingered in the west,
sun climbing through the salmon clouds,
the lovely long green hair of trees.
Gathering his priceless spoils
he hangs them on a wire to dry,
shows them in portfolios,
arranged like precious stones
to trade for small gain
and a modicum of fame.
The truths of the morning,
the wind,
the sun's warmth,
the heady scent of soil,
the songs of birds,
he holds within himself
to bring the morning back;
these he will not trade away.
Copyright © 2003 Joe Larkin
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