Via Negativa

July 3, 2025July 3, 2025 by Luisa A. Igloria

Up by four o’clock and to my office till 8 o’clock, writing over two copies of our contract with Sir W. Rider, &c., for 500 ton of hempe, which, because it is a secret, I have the trouble of 7 over as well as drawing.
Then home to dress myself, and so to the office, where another fray between Sir R. Ford and myself about his yarn, wherein I find the board to yield on my side, and was glad thereof, though troubled that the office should fall upon me of disobliging Sir Richard.
At noon we all by invitation dined at the Dolphin with the Officers of the Ordnance; where Sir W. Compton, Mr. O’Neale, and other great persons, were, and a very great dinner, but I drank as I still do but my allowance of wine.
After dinner, was brought to Sir W. Compton a gun to discharge seven times, the best of all devices that ever I saw, and very serviceable, and not a bawble; for it is much approved of, and many thereof made.
Thence to my office all the afternoon as long as I could see, about setting many businesses in order. In the evening came Mr. Lewis to me, and very ingeniously did enquire whether I ever did look into the business of the Chest at Chatham; and after my readiness to be informed did appear to him, he did produce a paper, wherein he stated the government of the Chest to me; and upon the whole did tell me how it hath ever been abused, and to this day is; and what a meritorious act it would be to look after it; which I am resolved to do, if God bless me; and do thank him very much for it.
So home, and after a turn or two upon the leads with my wife, who has lately had but little of my company, since I begun to follow my business, but is contented therewith since she sees how I spend my time, and so to bed.

a secret wing
should fall at noon

we allow a gun
to discharge seven times
approve the afternoon

the government of a hole
has little to see

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Thursday 3 July 1662.

July 2, 2025July 2, 2025 by Luisa A. Igloria

what was your original face?

river in November light between bare woods and mountain

July 2, 2025 by Dave Bonta

Instructions for seeing

Up while the chimes went four, and to put down my journal, and so to my office, to read over such instructions as concern the officers of the Yard; for I am much upon seeing into the miscarriages there. By and by, by appointment, comes Commissioner Pett; and then a messenger from Mr. Coventry, who sits in his boat expecting us, and so we down to him at the Tower, and there took water all, and to Deptford (he in our passage taking notice how much difference there is between the old Captains for obedience and order, and the King’s new Captains, which I am very glad to hear him confess); and there we went into the Store-house, and viewed first the provisions there, and then his books, but Mr. Davis himself was not there, he having a kinswoman in the house dead, for which, when by and by I saw him, he do trouble himself most ridiculously, as if there was never another woman in the world; in which so much laziness, as also in the Clerkes of the Cheque and Survey (which after one another we did examine), as that I do not perceive that there is one-third of their duties performed; but I perceive, to my great content, Mr. Coventry will have things reformed.
So Mr. Coventry to London, and Pett and I to the Pay, where Sir Williams both were paying off the Royal James still, and so to dinner, and to the Pay again, where I did relieve several of my Lord Sandwich’s people, but was sorry to see them so peremptory, and at every word would, complain to my Lord, as if they shall have such a command over my Lord. In the evening I went forth and took a walk with Mr. Davis, and told him what had passed at his office to-day, and did give him my advice, and so with the rest by barge home and to bed.

instructions for seeing
come down to taking notice

how much difference
there is between visions

as if there was never
another world
in one another

and we all have
to give rest a home

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Wednesday 2 July 1662.

July 2, 2025 by Dave Bonta

Angst

To the office, and there we sat till past noon, and then Captain Cuttance and I by water to Deptford, where the Royal James (in which my Lord went out the last voyage, though [he] came back in the Charles) was paying off by Sir W. Batten and Sir W. Pen.
So to dinner, where I had Mr. Sheply to dine with us, and from thence I sent to my Lord to know whether she should be a first rate, as the men would have her, or a second. He answered that we should forbear paying the officers and such whose pay differed upon the rate of the ship, till he could speak with his Royal Highness.
To the Pay again after dinner, and seeing of Cooper, the mate of the ship, whom I knew in the Charles, I spoke to him about teaching the mathematiques, and do please myself in my thoughts of learning of him, and bade him come to me in a day or two.
Towards evening I left them, and to Redriffe by land, Mr. Cowly, the Clerk of the Cheque, with me, discoursing concerning the abuses of the yard, in which he did give me much light. So by water home, and after half an hour sitting talking with my wife, who was afeard I did intend to go with my Lord to fetch the Queen mother over, in which I did clear her doubts, I went to bed by daylight, in order to my rising early to-morrow.

at my age am I
where I should be

on the peak seeing
each thought come

or in a red land
of much light

sitting with my fear
the moth rising early

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Tuesday 1 July 1662.

July 1, 2025July 1, 2025 by Luisa A. Igloria

Revelation

~ after Remedios Varo (1955)


        Within each time, the contemplation 
             of time. Devices for its calibration 
and measure, the recognition of how 
       it holds up the sky in whatever quadrant 
             we might reside. See how many points of 
existence want to push through the membrane 
       of this life. All the actors gathered here, 
             garbed in their own choice of armor, 
must hear that electric humming in 
             the atmosphere. Strings of tin-can stars 
       waterfall in the room. How thin the border 
between states: outside and in, love and labor, 
             quiet and clamor. The world is no longer 
       beginning to change. It has changed.

June 30, 2025June 30, 2025 by Luisa A. Igloria

The Big One

     is what they call the energy 
that will sunder the plates 
     which have more or less kept  
us in place in the only lifetime 
     we know; is the massive swell, 
tsunami that will rear its head 
     above cities and towns then 
make the noise of a million rushing 
     bees. Plumed emerald basilisks 
freefall from their perches to kiss 
     the ground before it disappears.
Then they'll skitter across water,
     runners looking for the finish line.

June 30, 2025June 30, 2025 by Dave Bonta

Poetry Blog Digest 2025, Week 26

A personal selection of posts from the Poetry Blogging Network and beyond. Although I tend to quote my favorite bits, please do click through and read the whole posts. You can also browse the blog digest archive at Via Negativa or, if you’d like it in your inbox, subscribe on Substack (where the posts might be truncated by some email providers).

This week: industrious bees, birds made of text, the rhizodont, International Pineapple Day, and much more. Enjoy.

June 30, 2025June 30, 2025 by Dave Bonta

Mob rule

Up betimes, and to my office, where I found Griffen’s girl making it clean, but, God forgive me! what a mind I had to her, but did not meddle with her. She being gone, I fell upon boring holes for me to see from my closet into the great office, without going forth, wherein I please myself much.
So settled to business, and at noon with my wife to the Wardrobe, and there dined, and staid talking all the afternoon with my Lord, and about four o’clock took coach with my wife and Lady, and went toward my house, calling at my Lady Carteret’s, who was within by chance (she keeping altogether at Deptford for a month or two), and so we sat with her a little. Among other things told my Lady how my Lady Fanshaw is fallen out with her only for speaking in behalf of the French, which my Lady wonders at, they having been formerly like sisters, but we see there is no true lasting friendship in the world.
Thence to my house, where I took great pride to lead her through the Court by the hand, she being very fine, and her page carrying up her train.
She staid a little at my house, and then walked through the garden, and took water, and went first on board the King’s pleasure boat, which pleased her much. Then to Greenwich Park; and with much ado she was able to walk up to the top of the hill, and so down again, and took boat, and so through bridge to Blackfryers, and home, she being much pleased with the ramble in every particular of it. So we supped with her, and then walked home, and to bed.
Observations
This I take to be as bad a juncture as ever I observed. The King and his new Queen minding their pleasures at Hampton Court. All people discontented; some that the King do not gratify them enough; and the others, Fanatiques of all sorts, that the King do take away their liberty of conscience; and the height of the Bishops, who I fear will ruin all again. They do much cry up the manner of Sir H. Vane’s death, and he deserves it. They clamour against the chimney-money, and say they will not pay it without force. And in the mean time, like to have war abroad; and Portugall to assist, when we have not money to pay for any ordinary layings-out at home.
Myself all in dirt about building of my house and Sir W. Batten’s a story higher. Into a good way, fallen on minding my business and saving money, which God encrease; and I do take great delight in it, and see the benefit of it. In a longing mind of going to see Brampton, but cannot get three days time, do what I can.
In very good health, my wife and myself.

boring holes
into the clock
and calling it a month

speaking like
the rain water in a boat
to the top of the hill

fanatics at the height of ruin
cry up death and say
they will not pay

for a road when
we have no money
for ordinary dirt

building my house
a story higher I go on
minding my light

Erasure haiku derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Monday 30 June 1662.

June 29, 2025June 29, 2025 by Luisa A. Igloria

Gathering

Out here, you can go to a farm and pick
armfuls of lavender that you cut yourself 
from plots threaded through with bee-flight. 
You can walk between rows of sunflowers, 
many of them taller than you, and angle 
your head as they do toward the sun's grand, 
unfollowable trajectory. Poets write of 
fleeting gold and leaves that yellow, 
of travelers that want to be in more than one 
place at once. But even when you haven't yet 
left, the scent of impending departure 
can wash over you like early morning 
fog. In that momentary stasis, it's as if 
time itself has pearled— a string of drops 
you can carry like a prayer in your hand.