Charles D. Tarlton
In at the Start
Which I wish to say is this
There is no beginning to an end
But there is a beginning and an end
To beginning.
—Gertrude Stein, Stanzas in Meditation
"...cuius rei in symbolum super te hoc birretum impono,"1 the Chancellor says at St. Andrews' Commencement. A beginning that is an end; an end that is a beginning.
in procession
"juniors first" reverses
beginning, end
the past, old age heavy
coming along so late
it's not the same
the word "hood" in hoodlum
not so monkish
a shadow-covered face
hiding bad intentions
1 "...as a symbol of which I place this cap upon you."
Bio
Having taught mainly English and Italian Renaissance political theory at the university level for a long time, Charles D. Tarlton has returned in retirement to a more youthful love-poetry. He has recently published a number of poems in magazines such as Review Americana, Jack Magazine, Houston Literary Review, Tipton, Barnwood, Haibun Today, Simply Haiku, Ink, Sweat, and Tears, Atlas Poetica, Red Lights, Sketchbook, mango moons, and an e-chapbook in the 2River series, entitled, The Vida de Piedra y de Palabra: Twelve improvisations on Pablo Neruda's Macchu Picchu.