9780241526088

M O D E R N

Louise Glück

Fiona Sampson, Guardian

This major career-spanning volume from Nobel Prize-winner Louise Glück brings together twelve collections, from her early Firstborn to the myth-making Averno and the questing Faithful and Virtuous Night. Together, they immerse us in the artistry and vision of one of the world’s greatest living poets.

Winner of the Nobel Prize

Louise Glück Poems

P EN GU IN P RES S POEMS: 1962–2020

Date: 28.03.2022 Designer: Arran Prod. Controller: Joseph Howse Editorial Manager: Richard Duguid In-House Editor: Chloe Currens

1962–2O2O

ISBN: 9780241526088

Poems 1962–2020

‘You read a passage by Glück and think, Ah yes, of course, this is how it is’

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‘A tremendous poet … Louise Glück has spent a lifetime showing us how to make language both mean something and hold everything’ Claudia Rankine

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‘This new collection brilliantly showcases the spare beauty of her writing … to read her is to encounter stillness and slow time’ Kate Kellaway, Observer

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‘It is difficult to think of another living poet whose voice contains so much electrifying undercurrent, whose rhythms are under such control, but whose work is also so exposed and urgent’ Colm Tóibín

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P E NG U I N M OD E R N C L A S S I C S

Poems 1962–2020 ‘One of the purest and most accomplished lyric poets now writing’ Robert Hass ‘No American poet writes better than Louise Glück, perhaps none can lead us so deeply into our own nature’ Stephen Dobyns ‘Beneath the austere beauty, Glück is also a sharp and sly writer who knows that the salt of poetry is the moment of surprise’ ­Jeremy Noel-Tod, Sunday Times ‘Put together, these compact volumes have a great novel’s cohesiveness and raking moral intensity. They display a supple and prosecutorial mind interrogating not merely her own life but also the sensual and political nature of the world that spins around it . . . No other poet slices with such accuracy and deadly intent . . . Glück is fearless’ Dwight Garner, The New York Times ‘Glück is among the most moving poets of our era . . . This voice is not going to go away’ Dan Chiasson, New Yorker ‘Glück’s is a voice unlike any other, teeming with phrases and stanzas that are sets of instructions on how to be human’ Ian McMillan ‘As with other great poets, Glück does not invite paraphrase. Her poems at their best – and they are very often at their best – embody not just the rage to order, but also the rage to identify a “truth” that no order can approximate or touch’ Robert Boyers, Nation

A B OU T T H E AU T H OR Louise Glück is the author of twelve books of poems and two essay ­collections. Her many awards include the Nobel Prize in Literature, the National Humanities Medal, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Bollingen Prize, and the ­Wallace Stevens Award from the Academy of American Poets. She teaches at Yale University and Stanford University and lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

POEMS 1962– 2020 lo u i s e g lü c k

PPEN O O KS S E NGU GUI N BBOOK

PENGUIN CLASSICS UK | USA | CanadaCLASSICS | Ireland | Australia PENGUIN India PENGUIN | New Zealand | South Africa CLASSICS UK | USA | Canada | Ireland | Australia UK | USA | Canada | Ireland |Africa Australia India | New Zealand | SouthHouse Penguin Classics is part of the Penguin Random group of companies Zealand | South Africa whose addressesIndia can |beNew found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com Penguin Classics is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies Penguin Classics is part thefound Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses canofbe at global.penguinrandomhouse.com whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com

Poems 1962–2012 first published in the USA by Farrar, Straus and Giroux 2012 Published in Great Britain with additional poems under the present title in Penguin Classics 2021 Poems 1962–2012 first published in the001 USA by Farrar, Straus and Giroux 2012 1962– 2012 first the USA by the Farrar, Straus and Published Poems in Great Britain withpublished additionalinpoems under present title in Giroux Penguin2012 Classics 2021 Published in Great Britain with additional poems the present Paperback published 2022 001under Copyright © edition Louise Glück, 2012, 2021 title in Penguin Classics 2021 001 Glück, The Copyright moral right©ofLouise the author has2012, been2021 asserted Copyright © Louise Glück, 2012, 2021 The moral right of the author has been asserted Firstborn, The House on Marshland, Descending Figure, The Triumph of Achilles, Ararat, The The moral right and of the Wild Iris, Meadowlands, Vita Nova Theauthor Seven has Agesbeen wereasserted originally published by Firstborn, TheAverno, House A onVillage Marshland, Descending The Triumph of Achilles, Ararat, The Ecco.

Life and FaithfulFigure, and Virtuous Night were originally Firstborn, The House on Marshland, Descending Figure, The Triumph Ararat,by The Wild Iris, Meadowlands, Vita Nova and The Seven Ages were originally published published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux of Achilles, WildEcco.

Iris, Meadowlands, Vita Life Novaand andFaithful The Seven Ages were originally published by Averno, A Village and Virtuous Night were originally Ecco.

Averno,and A Village Life and Faithful and Night were S.p.A. originally published

by Farrar, Straus and Giroux Printed bound in Great Britain

by Virtuous Clays Ltd, Elcograf published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux Printed and bound in Great byPenguin Clays Ltd, Elcograf S.p.A.Ireland, The authorized representative in theBritain EEA is Random House Printed and bound in Great Britain Street,

by Clays Ltd, Elcograf S.p.A. Morrison Chambers, 32 Nassau Dublin d02 yh68 The authorized representative in the EEA is Penguin Random House Ireland, The authorized representative EEA is Penguin Random House Ireland, Morrison Chambers, 32the Nassau Dublin d02 yh68 A CIP catalogue record for in this book is Street, available from the British Library Morrison Chambers, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin d02 yh68 A CIP catalogue recordisbn: for this book is available 978– 0–241– 52607–1from the British Library A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library isbn: 978–0–241–52607–1 isbn: 978–0–241–52608–8 52607–1

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CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS F I R S T B O R N ( 19 6 8 ) F I R S T B O R N ( 19 6 8 ) F I R S T B O R N ( 19 6 8 )

i

ii

th e e g g The Chicago i th e e g g Train i th e Chicago egg The Egg The Train The Chicago Train Thanksgiving The Egg The Egg Hesitate to Call Thanksgiving Thanksgiving My Cousin HesitateintoApril Call Hesitate to Call Returning a Lost My Cousin inChild April My Cousin April Labor Day Returning ainLost Child Returning a Lost Child The Labor WoundDay Labor Day Silverpoint The Wound Wound in Croton-on-Hudson EarlyThe December Silverpoint Silverpoint Early December in Croton-on-Hudson Early December in Croton-on-Hudson

5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 16

th e e dg e Edge iThe i th e e dg e iGrandmother i th e dg ein the Garden Thee Edge The Edge Pictures of the People in the War Grandmother in the Garden in the Garden The Grandmother Racer’s Widow Pictures of the People in the War Pictures the People in the War Portrait theofQueen in Tears TheofRacer’s Widow The Racer’s Widow Bridal Piece of the Queen in Tears Portrait Portrait ofin thethe Queen My Neighbor Mirrorin Tears Bridal Piece Bridal Piece My Life Before Dawn My Neighbor in the Mirror inDawn the Mirror The My LadyNeighbor in the Single My Life Before My Life Before Dawn The The Cripple Ladyininthe theSubway Single The Lady in the Single Nurse’s TheSong Cripple in the Subway The Cripple in the Subway Seconds Nurse’s Song Nurse’s Song Letter from Our Man in Blossomtime Seconds Seconds Letter from Our Man in Blossomtime Letter from Our Man in Blossomtime

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

5 56 68 89 109 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 15 15 16 16

19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 31

The The Cell Cell The The Islander Islander Letter Letter fromfrom Provence Provence Memo Memo fromfrom the Cave the Cave Firstborn Firstborn La Force La Force The The Game Game iii iii cot tonmouth cot tonmouth count count ry ry Cottonmouth Cottonmouth Country Country Phenomenal Phenomenal Survivals Survivals of Death of Death in Nantucket in Nantucket Easter Easter Season Season Scraps Scraps The Tree The Tree House House Meridian Meridian Late Late SnowSnow To Florida To Florida The The SlaveSlave Ship Ship Solstice Solstice The The InletInlet Saturnalia Saturnalia

32 33 34 35 36 37 38

32 33 34 35 36 37 38

41 42 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53

41 42 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53

59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

T H ET H HEO U H SOEUO S EN OMNA R MSAHRLSAHNLD A N( 1D9 75 ( 1)9 75 )

i

vi

al i l al hal l lows hal lows All Hallows All Hallows The The PondPond Gretel Gretel in Darkness in Darkness For My For Mother My Mother Archipelago Archipelago The The MagiMagi The The Shad-blow Shad-blow Tree Tree Messengers Messengers The The Murderess Murderess Flowering Flowering PlumPlum Nativity Nativity PoemPoem To Autumn To Autumn vi

ii

Still Life Still Life For Jane For Jane Myers Myers Gratitude Gratitude PoemPoem The The School School Children Children Jeanne Jeanne d’Arcd’Arc Departure Departure Gemini Gemini

71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78

71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78

ith i e th apep le ap ptle re etsre e s The The Undertaking Undertaking Pomegranate Pomegranate Brennende Brennende LiebeLiebe Abishag Abishag 12. 6.12.

716. 71 LoveLove PoemPoem Northwood Northwood Path Path The The Fire Fire The The Fortress Fortress HereHere Are My Are Black My Black Clothes Clothes Under Under Taurus Taurus The The Swimmer Swimmer The The Letters Letters Japonica Japonica The The Apple Apple TreesTrees

81 82 83 84 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96

81 82 83 84 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96

101 102 105 106 107 109

101 102 105 106 107 109

vii

vii

D E SDCEESN CD E INNDGI NF G I GFUI R GE UR ( 1E9 8( 01 )9 8 0 )

i

th i e th garde e garde n n The The Drowned Drowned Children Children The The Garden Garden PalaisPalais des Arts des Arts PietàPietà Descending Descending Figure Figure Thanksgiving Thanksgiving

ii

ii th e th m ierror m i rror Epithalamium Epithalamium Illuminations Illuminations The The Mirror Mirror Portrait Portrait Tango Tango Swans Swans Night Night PiecePiece Portland, Portland, 19681968 Porcelain Porcelain BowlBowl Dedication Dedication to Hunger to Hunger Happiness Happiness

iii iii lam lam e ntat e ntat i on si ons Autumnal Autumnal Aubade Aubade Aphrodite Aphrodite RosyRosy The The Dream Dream of Mourning of Mourning The The Gift Gift World World Breaking Breaking ApartApart The The Return Return Lamentations Lamentations

113 114 115 116 117 120 121 122 123 124 127

113 114 115 116 117 120 121 122 123 124 127

131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139

131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139

147 148 150 151 152 155 156 157 159

147 148 150 151 152 155 156 157 159

T H ET H TR E ITURMI U PH M POHF O AC FH AICLH LE I LSL(E1S9 85 ( 1)9 85 )

i

i Mock Mock Orange Orange Metamorphosis Metamorphosis Brooding Brooding Likeness Likeness ExileExile Winter Winter Morning Morning Seated Seated Figure Figure Mythic Mythic Fragment Fragment Hyacinth Hyacinth The Triumph The Triumph of Achilles of Achilles

viii viii

ii

Baskets Baskets Liberation Liberation

160 160 163 163

ii The The Embrace Embrace Marathon Marathon Summer Summer

167 167 168 168 175 175

iii i i i The The Reproach Reproach The The End End of theofWorld the World The The Mountain Mountain A Parable A Parable Day Without Day Without Night Night ElmsElms AdultAdult GriefGrief Hawk’s Hawk’s Shadow Shadow FromFrom the Japanese the Japanese Legend Legend Morning Morning Horse Horse

179 181 183 184 185 189 190 191 192 196 198 199

179 181 183 184 185 189 190 191 192 196 198 199

203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214

203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214

ix

ix

ARA AR RAT A R AT ( 1 9 9( 01 )9 9 0 )

Parodos Parodos A Fantasy A Fantasy A Novel A Novel LaborLabor Day Day LoverLover of Flowers of Flowers Widows Widows Confession Confession A Precedent A Precedent Lost Lost LoveLove Lullaby Lullaby Mount Mount Ararat Ararat Appearances Appearances

The The Untrustworthy Untrustworthy Speaker Speaker A Fable A Fable NewNew World World Birthday Birthday Brown Brown Circle Circle Children Children Coming Coming Home Home fromfrom School School Animals Animals SaintsSaints Yellow Yellow Dahlia Dahlia Cousins Cousins Paradise Paradise ChildChild Crying Crying Out Out SnowSnow Terminal Terminal Resemblance Resemblance Lament Lament Mirror Mirror Image Image Children Children Coming Coming Home Home fromfrom School School Amazons Amazons Celestial Celestial Music Music First First Memory Memory

216 218 219 221 222 223 225 227 228 229 230 232 233 234 236 237 238 239 240 242

216 218 219 221 222 223 225 227 228 229 230 232 233 234 236 237 238 239 240 242

245 246 247 248 249 250 251 253 254 255 256 257 258 259

245 246 247 248 249 250 251 253 254 255 256 257 258 259

T H ET H WEI LW DI LI R D I SI R( I1S9 9(21)9 9 2 )

The Wild The Wild Iris Iris Matins Matins Matins Matins Trillium Trillium Lamium Lamium Snowdrops Snowdrops ClearClear Morning Morning Spring Spring SnowSnow End End of Winter of Winter Matins Matins Matins Matins ScillaScilla Retreating Retreating WindWind The The Garden Garden x

x

The The Hawthorn Hawthorn Tree Tree LoveLove in Moonlight in Moonlight AprilApril Violets Violets Witchgrass Witchgrass The The Jacob’s Jacob’s Ladder Ladder Matins Matins Matins Matins SongSong FieldField Flowers Flowers The The Red Red Poppy Poppy Clover Clover Matins Matins Heaven Heaven and Earth and Earth The The Doorway Doorway Midsummer Midsummer Vespers Vespers Vespers Vespers Vespers Vespers Daisies Daisies End End of Summer of Summer Vespers Vespers Vespers Vespers Vespers Vespers EarlyEarly Darkness Darkness Harvest Harvest The White The White RoseRose Ipomoea Ipomoea Presque Presque Isle Isle Retreating Retreating LightLight Vespers Vespers Vespers: Vespers: Parousia Parousia Vespers Vespers Vespers Vespers Sunset Sunset Lullaby Lullaby The The SilverSilver Lily Lily September September Twilight Twilight

260 261 262 263 264 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 278 279 280 281 282 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301

260 261 262 263 264 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 278 279 280 281 282 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301

xi

xi

The The GoldGold Lily Lily The White The White LiliesLilies

302 302 303 303

MEA MDEOW A D OW L A NLD A SN D ( 1S9 9( 61 )9 9 6 )

Penelope’s Penelope’s SongSong CanaCana Quiet Quiet Evening Evening Ceremony Ceremony Parable Parable of theofKing the King Moonless Moonless Night Night Departure Departure Ithaca Ithaca Telemachus’ Telemachus’ Detachment Detachment Parable Parable of theofHostages the Hostages Rainy Rainy Morning Morning Parable Parable of theofTrellis the Trellis Telemachus’ Telemachus’ GuiltGuilt Anniversary Anniversary Meadowlands Meadowlands 1 1 Telemachus’ Telemachus’ Kindness Kindness Parable Parable of theofBeast the Beast Midnight Midnight SirenSiren Meadowlands Meadowlands 2 2 Marina Marina Parable Parable of theofDove the Dove Telemachus’ Telemachus’ Dilemma Dilemma Meadowlands Meadowlands 3 3 The The RockRock Circe’s Circe’s Power Power Telemachus’ Telemachus’ Fantasy Fantasy Parable Parable of Flight of Flight Odysseus’ Odysseus’ Decision Decision Nostos Nostos The The Butterfly Butterfly Circe’s Circe’s Torment Torment xii

xii

307 308 309 310 312 313 314 315 316 317 319 320 321 322 323 325 326 327 328 330 331 332 334 335 336 338 339 340 341 342 343 344

307 308 309 310 312 313 314 315 316 317 319 320 321 322 323 325 326 327 328 330 331 332 334 335 336 338 339 340 341 342 343 344

Circe’s Circe’s GriefGrief Penelope’s Penelope’s Stubbornness Stubbornness Telemachus’ Telemachus’ Confession Confession VoidVoid Telemachus’ Telemachus’ Burden Burden Parable Parable of theofSwans the Swans Purple Purple Bathing Bathing Suit Suit Parable Parable of Faith of Faith Reunion Reunion The The Dream Dream Otis Otis The Wish The Wish Parable Parable of theofGift the Gift Heart’s Heart’s Desire Desire

345 346 347 348 349 350 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359

345 346 347 348 349 350 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359

363 365 367 368 369 370 372 374 375 377 379 380 381 382 383 385 386 388 389 391

363 365 367 368 369 370 372 374 375 377 379 380 381 382 383 385 386 388 389 391

V I TA V I TA N OVA N OVA ( 1 9 9( 91 )9 9 9 )

Vita Vita NovaNova Aubade Aubade The The Queen Queen of Carthage of Carthage The The OpenOpen GraveGrave Unwritten Unwritten Law Law The The Burning Burning HeartHeart Roman Roman StudyStudy The The NewNew Life Life Formaggio Formaggio Timor Timor Mortis Mortis LuteLute SongSong Orfeo Orfeo Descent Descent to the toValley the Valley The The Garment Garment Condo Condo Immortal Immortal LoveLove Earthly Earthly LoveLove Eurydice Eurydice Castile Castile Mutable Mutable EarthEarth

xiii xiii

The Winged The Winged Horse Horse Earthly Earthly Terror Terror The The Golden Golden Bough Bough Evening Evening Prayers Prayers RelicRelic NestNest Ellsworth Ellsworth Avenue Avenue Inferno Inferno Seizure Seizure The The Mystery Mystery Lament Lament Vita Vita NovaNova

393 394 395 396 398 399 402 404 406 408 410 412

393 394 395 396 398 399 402 404 406 408 410 412

417 419 420 422 423 424 425 427 429 431 432 434 436 438 441 442 443 444 445 446 448 450

417 419 420 422 423 424 425 427 429 431 432 434 436 438 441 442 443 444 445 446 448 450

T H ET H S EEVSEENV EAN G EASG(E2S0 0( 12 )0 0 1 )

The The SevenSeven AgesAges Moonbeam Moonbeam The The Sensual Sensual World World Mother Mother and Child and Child FableFable Solstice Solstice StarsStars Youth Youth Exalted Exalted Image Image Reunion Reunion Radium Radium Birthday Birthday Ancient Ancient Text Text FromFrom a Journal a Journal IslandIsland The The Destination Destination The The Balcony Balcony Copper Copper Beech Beech StudyStudy of My of Sister My Sister August August Summer Summer at theatBeach the Beach RainRain in Summer in Summer xiv xiv

Civilization Civilization Decade Decade The The Empty Empty GlassGlass Quince Quince Tree Tree The Traveler The Traveler Arboretum Arboretum Dream Dream of Lust of Lust Grace Grace FableFable The The MuseMuse of Happiness of Happiness RipeRipe PeachPeach Unpainted Unpainted DoorDoor Mitosis Mitosis Eros Eros The The RuseRuse TimeTime Memoir Memoir SaintSaint Joan Joan Aubade Aubade Screened Screened PorchPorch Summer Summer Night Night FableFable

452 454 455 457 459 460 462 464 465 466 468 471 472 474 475 477 479 480 482 483 484 485

452 454 455 457 459 460 462 464 465 466 468 471 472 474 475 477 479 480 482 483 484 485

AV EAV RN EO R N( 2O0 0( 62 )0 0 6 )

i

The The Night Night Migrations Migrations

489 489

i October October Persephone Persephone the Wanderer the Wanderer PrismPrism Crater Crater LakeLake Echoes Echoes Fugue Fugue

493 501 505 513 514 516

493 501 505 513 514 516

xv

xv

ii

ii The The Evening Evening Star Star Landscape Landscape A Myth A Myth of Innocence of Innocence Archaic Archaic Fragment Fragment BlueBlue Rotunda Rotunda A Myth A Myth of Devotion of Devotion Averno Averno Omens Omens Telescope Telescope Thrush Thrush Persephone Persephone the Wanderer the Wanderer

523 524 532 534 535 540 542 549 550 551 552

523 524 532 534 535 540 542 549 550 551 552

559 560 562 564 566 568 569 572 573 575 576 577 580 581 582 583 585 587 588 590 591 592

559 560 562 564 566 568 569 572 573 575 576 577 580 581 582 583 585 587 588 590 591 592

A V IAL V LA I LGLEA G L IEF E L I (F2E0 0( 92 )0 0 9 )

Twilight Twilight Pastoral Pastoral Tributaries Tributaries Noon Noon Before Before the Storm the Storm Sunset Sunset In the InCafé the Café In the InPlaza the Plaza Dawn Dawn First First SnowSnow Earthworm Earthworm At the AtRiver the River A Corridor A Corridor Fatigue Fatigue Burning Burning Leaves Leaves Walking Walking at Night at Night Via delle Via delle Ombre Ombre Hunters Hunters A Slip A of SlipPaper of Paper Bats Bats Burning Burning Leaves Leaves March March xvi xvi

A Night A Night in Spring in Spring Harvest Harvest Confession Confession Marriage Marriage Primavera Primavera Figs Figs At the AtDance the Dance Solitude Solitude Earthworm Earthworm OliveOlive TreesTrees Sunrise Sunrise A Warm A Warm Day Day Burning Burning Leaves Leaves Crossroads Crossroads Bats Bats Abundance Abundance Midsummer Midsummer Threshing Threshing A Village A Village Life Life

595 597 599 601 602 603 606 608 609 610 613 615 617 618 619 620 621 623 625

IndexIndex of Titles of Titles FAITH F UL A ND VI RT UOUS NI GHT (2 014 )

629 629

Parable An Adventure The Past Faithful and Virtuous Night Theory of Memory A Sharply Worded Silence Visitors from Abroad Aboriginal Landscape Utopia Cornwall Afterword Midnight The Sword in the Stone Forbidden Music The Open Window

631 632 634 635 644 645 648 650 652 653 656 659 662 666 667

595 597 599 601 602 603 606 608 609 610 613 615 617 618 619 620 621 623 625

xvii xvii

xviii

The Melancholy Assistant A Foreshortened Journey Approach of the Horizon The White Series The Horse and Rider A Work of Fiction The Story of a Day A Summer Garden The Couple in the Park

668 670 671 674 680 681 682 684 689

Index of Titles

691

FIRSTBORN (1968) to my teache r

i i thth e eeg egg g

th ethc eh iccag h i cag o torati ra n in Across Across fromfrom me the mewhole the whole ride ride Hardly Hardly stirred: stirred: just Mister just Mister withwith his barren his barren SkullSkull acrossacross the arm-rest the arm-rest whilewhile the kid the kid Got Got his head his head between between his mama’s his mama’s legs and legs slept. and slept.

The The poison poison ThatThat replaces replaces air took air took over.over.

And And they they sat—as sat—as though though paralysis paralysis preceding preceding deathdeath Had Had nailed nailed themthem there.there.

The The tracktrack bent bent south. south.

I sawI her sawpulsing her pulsing crotch crotch . . . the . . .lice the rooted lice rooted in that in baby’s that baby’s hair. hair.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n5

•

5

th ethe ge ge g g i

i

Everything Everything wentwent in theincar. the car.

SleptSlept in theincar, theslept car, slept Like Like angels angels in theinduned the duned graveyards, graveyards, BeingBeing gone.gone.

A week’s A week’s meatmeat Spoiled, Spoiled, peas peas Giggled Giggled in their in their pods:pods: we we Stole.Stole.

And And then then in Edgartown in Edgartown I heard I heard my insides my insides RollRoll into into a criba crib ... ...

Washing Washing underwear underwear in theinAtlantic the Atlantic Touched Touched the sun’s the sun’s sea sea As light As light welled welled ThatThat couldcould devour devour water. water.

AfterAfter Edgartown Edgartown We went We went the other the other way. way. ii

ii

UntilUntil aloft aloft beyond beyond The The sterilizer sterilizer his enormous his enormous handshands Swarmed, Swarmed, carnivorous, carnivorous, For prey.

For prey.

Beneath Beneath which, which, Dripping Dripping white, white, stripped stripped OpenOpen to the towand, the wand, I sawI the sawlamps the lamps Converging Converging in hisinglasses. his glasses.

Dramamine.

Dramamine.

You You let him let him RobRob me. But me. But HowHow long?long? how how long?long?

Past cutlery Past cutlery I sawI saw My body My body stretching stretching like alike teara tear Along Along the paper. the paper.

6

6

iii i i i Always Always nights nights I feelI the feelocean the ocean Biting Biting at myatlife. my By life. By Inlet,Inlet, in this in net this net Of bays, Of bays, and on. andUnsafe. on. Unsafe.

And And on, numb on, numb In the Inbourbon the bourbon ripples ripples Of your Of your breath breath I knot I knot ... ...

Across Across the beach the beach the fish the fish Are coming Are coming in. Without in. Without skins,skins, Without Without fins, the fins,bare the bare Households Households of their of their skullsskulls Still fixed, Still fixed, pilingpiling WithWith the other the other waste. waste.

Husks, Husks, husks. husks.

Moons Moons Whistle Whistle in their in their mouths, mouths, Through Through gasping gasping mussels. mussels.

PriedPried flesh.flesh.

And And flies flies Like Like planets, planets, clamped clamped shellsshells ClinkClink blindly blindly through through Veronicas Veronicas of waves of waves ... ...

The The thingthing Is hatching.

Is hatching.

Look.

Look.

The The bonesbones Are bending Are bending to give to give way. way.

It’s dark.

It’s dark.

It’s dark.

It’s dark.

He’s He’s brought brought a bowl a bowl to catch to catch The The pieces pieces of theofbaby. the baby.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n7

•

7

thank thank sg iv s gi ng i v i ng In every In every room, room, encircled encircled by a by namea nameless Southern less Southern boy from boy from Yale,Yale, There There was my wasyounger my younger sistersister singing singing a Fellini a Fellini theme theme And And making making phone phone calls calls While While the rest the of restusofkept us kept moving moving her discarded her discarded bootsboots Or sat Orand sat drank. and drank.

Outside, Outside, in twentyin twentynine nine degrees, degrees, a stray a stray cat cat Grazed Grazed in our in driveway, our driveway, Seeking Seeking waste. waste.

It scratched It scratched the pail. the pail.

There There werewere no other no other sounds. sounds.

Yet on Yetand on on andthe onpreparation the preparation of that of vast that consoling vast consoling mealmeal Edged Edged toward toward the stove. the stove.

My mother My mother Had Had the skewers the skewers in her inhands. her hands.

I watched I watched her tucking her tucking skin skin As though As though she missed she missed her young, her young, whilewhile bits of bitsonion of onion Misted Misted snowsnow over over the pronged the pronged death. death.

8

8

h e shi tat e s i tat e to e to ca lca l ll LivedLived to seetoyou see throwing you throwing Me aside.

Me aside.

ThatThat fought fought Like Like netted netted fish inside fish inside me. Saw me. Saw you throbbing you throbbing In my Insyrups. my syrups.

Saw Saw you sleep. you sleep.

And And livedlived to seeto see ThatThat all that all all thatflushed all flushed downdown The The refuse. refuse.

Done?

Done?

It lives It lives in me. in me.

You You live in liveme. in Malignant. me. Malignant.

Love,Love, you ever you ever wantwant me, don’t. me, don’t.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n9

•

9

my my coucou s i n s i n ap i n riapl ri l Under Under cerulean, cerulean, amidamid her backyard’s her backyard’s knobby knobby rhubarb rhubarb squatssquats My cousin My cousin to giggle to giggle withwith her baby, her baby, pat pat His bald His bald top. From top. From a window a window I canI catch can catch themthem mull mull basil,basil, Glinty Glinty silica,silica, sienna sienna through through the ground’s the ground’s brocade brocade Of tarragon Of tarragon or pause or pause underunder the oblong the oblong shadeshade Of the Ofgarage. the garage.

The The nervous, nervous, emerald emerald Fanning Fanning of some of some rhizome rhizome skimsskims my cousin’s my cousin’s kneeknee As upAsand up down and down she bends she bends to the tobaby. the baby.

I’m knitting I’m knitting sweaters sweaters for her forsecond her second child.child.

As though, As though, downdown milesmiles of dinners, of dinners, had not had heard not heard her rock her rock her bed her bed In rage In rage and thought and thought it years it years she lay, shelocked lay, locked in that in tantrum that tantrum ... ...

Oh but Ohsuch but such stir asstir in asher inbody her body had to hadcome to come round. round.

AmidAmid violet, violet, Azalea, Azalea, round round around around the whole the whole arriving arriving garden garden NowNow withwith her son her she sonpasses she passes whatwhat I paused I paused To catch, To catch, the early the early bud phases, bud phases, on the onspringing the springing grass.grass.

10 10

retur retur n i ng n i ng a lo a st locsth icl hd i l d Nothing Nothing moves. moves.

In itsIncage, its cage, the broken the broken Blossom Blossom of a fan of asways fan sways Limply, Limply, trickling trickling its wire, its wire, as herasthin her thin Arms, Arms, hunghung like flypaper, like flypaper, twisttwist aboutabout the boy the .boy .. ...

Later,Later, blocking blocking the doorway, the doorway, tongue tongue Pinned Pinned to the tofat thewedge fat wedge of hisofpop, his pop, he watches he watches As I As findI find the other the other room, room, the father the father strung strung On crutches, On crutches, waiting waiting to betoroused be roused ... ...

NowNow squeezed squeezed fromfrom thanks thanks the woman’s the woman’s lemonade lemonade lies lies In my Incup. my As cup.endlessly As endlessly she picks she picks Her Her spentspent kleenex kleenex into into dust,dust, always always Staring Staring at that at man, that man, hearing hearing the click, the click, ClickClick of hisofbrain’s his brain’s whirling whirling empty empty spindle spindle ... ...

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n11 • 11

labor lab oday r day Requiring Requiring something something lovelylovely on his onarm his arm TookTook me tomeStamford, to Stamford, Connecticut, Connecticut, a quasi-farm, a quasi-farm, His family’s; His family’s; later later picking picking up the upmammoth the mammoth Girlfriend Girlfriend of Charlie, of Charlie, meanwhile meanwhile trying trying to pawn to pawn me off me off On some On some thirdthird guy also guy up alsofor upthe forweekend. the weekend.

But Saturday But Saturday we still we were still were paired; paired; spentspent It sprawled It sprawled acrossacross that sprawling that sprawling acreage acreage UntilUntil the grass the grass grewgrew limp limp WithWith damp. damp.

Like Like me. Johnston-baby, me. Johnston-baby, I canI still can see still see The The pelted pelted clover, clover, burrs’burrs’ prickle prickle fur and fur gorged and gorged Pastures Pastures spewing spewing infinite infinite tiny bells. tiny bells.

You You pimp.pimp.

12 12

th et hwound e woun d The The air stiffens air stiffens to a crust. to a crust.

FromFrom bed Ibed watch I watch ClotsClots of flies, of flies, crickets crickets FriskFrisk and titter. and titter.

NowNow The The weather weather is such is such grease. grease.

All day All Iday smell I smell the roasts the roasts Like Like presences. presences.

You You RootRoot into into youryour books. books.

You You do your do your stuff.stuff.

In here In here my bedroom my bedroom wallswalls Are paisley, Are paisley, like alike plota plot Of embryos.

Of embryos.

I lie Ihere, lie here, Waiting Waiting for itsforkick. its kick.

My love.

My love.

My tenant.

My tenant.

As the Asshrubs the shrubs growgrow Downy, Downy, bloom bloom and seed. and seed.

The The hedges hedges growgrow downy downy And And seed seed and moonlight and moonlight Burbles Burbles through through the gauze. the gauze.

Sticky Sticky curtains. curtains.

Faking Faking scrabble scrabble WithWith the pair the next pair next doordoor I watched I watched you clutch you clutch youryour blank. blank.

They’re They’re bothboth on Nembutal, on Nembutal, The The killerkiller pill. pill.

And And I amIfixed. am fixed.

GoneGone careful, careful, Begging Begging for the fornod, the nod, You You hoverhover loyally loyally aboveabove my head. my head.

I close I close My eyes.

My eyes.

And And now now The The prison prison falls in fallsplace: in place: RipeRipe things things swaysway in theinlight, the light, PartsParts of plants, of plants, leaf leaf Fragments Fragments ... ...

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n13 • 13

You You are covering are covering the cot the cot WithWith sheets. sheets.

I feelI feel No end.

No end.

No end.

No end.

It stalls It stalls In me.

In It’s me.still It’s alive. still alive.

14 14

s i lve s i lve rp orp i noti n t My sister, My sister, by the bychiming the chiming kinkskinks Of the OfAtlantic the Atlantic Ocean, Ocean, takestakes in light. in light.

Beyond Beyond her, wreathed her, wreathed in algae, in algae, linkslinks on links on links Of breakers Of breakers meetmeet and disconnect, and disconnect, foamfoam through through bracelets bracelets Of seabirds.

Of seabirds.

The The windwind sinks.sinks.

She does She does not feel not the feelchange the change At once.

At once.

It will It take will take time.time.

My sister, My sister, Stirring Stirring briefly briefly to arrange to arrange Her Her towel, towel, browns browns like alike chicken, a chicken, underunder fire. fire.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n15 • 15

earear ly de ly cde e mcbeemrb ei nr ci nrocto ronto - onn--ohnu-dhsuodns o n Spiked Spiked sun. The sun. The Hudson’s Hudson’s Whittled Whittled downdown by ice. by ice.

I hearI hear the bone the bone dice dice Of blown Of blown gravelgravel clicking. clicking.

BoneBonepale,pale, the recent the recent snowsnow Fastens Fastens like fur liketofurthe toriver. the river.

Standstill.

Standstill.

We were We were leaving leaving to deliver to deliver Christmas Christmas presents presents whenwhen the tire the blew tire blew Last year.

Last year.

Above Above the dead the dead valvesvalves pinespines paredpared Down Down by a by storm a storm stood, stood, limbslimbs baredbared ... ...

I want I want you. you.

16 16

i i i i thth e eedg e dg e e

th ethe dg e eedg e TimeTime and again, and again, time time and again and again I tie I tie My heart My heart to that to headboard that headboard While While my quilted my quilted criescries Harden Harden against against his hand. his hand.

He’s He’s bored— bored— I see Iit.see Don’t it. Don’t I lickI his lickbribes, his bribes, set his setbouquets his bouquets In water?

In water?

OverOver Mother’s Mother’s lace Ilace watch I watch him him drivedrive into into the gored the gored Roasts, Roasts, deal deal sliversslivers in hisinmercy his mercy . . . I .can . . I feel can his feelthighs his thighs Against Against me for methe forchildren’s the children’s sakes.sakes.

Reward?

Reward?

Mornings, Mornings, crippled crippled withwith this house, this house, I see Ihim see him toasttoast his toast his toast and test and test His coffee, His coffee, hedgingly. hedgingly.

The The waste’s waste’s my breakfast. my breakfast.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n19 • 19

g rand g randm m ot hot e rh ei nr th i n ethgard e gard en en The The grassgrass below below the willow the willow Of my Ofdaughter’s my daughter’s washwash is curled is curled WithWith earthworms, earthworms, and the andworld the world Is measured Is measured into into row on rowrow on row Of unspiced Of unspiced houses, houses, painted painted to seem to seem real. real.

The The drugged drugged LongLong IslandIsland summer summer sun drains sun drains Pattern Pattern fromfrom thosethose empty empty sleeves, sleeves, beyond beyond my grandson my grandson Squealing Squealing in hisinpen. his pen.

I have I have survived survived my life. my life.

The The yellow yellow daylight daylight lines lines the oak the leaf oak leaf And And the wire the wire vinesvines melt melt withwith the unchanged the unchanged changes changes Of the Ofbaby. the baby.

My children My children have have theirtheir husbands’ husbands’ hands. hands.

My husband’s My husband’s framed, framed, propped propped bald bald as a baby as a baby on their on their pianos, pianos, My tremendous My tremendous man.man.

I close I close my eyes. my eyes.

And And all the allclothes the clothes I have I have thrown thrown out come out come backback to me, to the me,hollows the hollows Of my Ofdaughters’ my daughters’ slips slips . . . they . . . they drift;drift; I see Ithe seesheer the sheer Summer Summer cottons cottons drift,drift, equivalent equivalent to air.to air.

20 20

p i c ptur i c tur e s of es o thf ethp e oppeloe pilne th i n ethwar e war LaterLater I’ll pull I’ll down pull down the shade the shade And And let this let fluid this fluid drawdraw life out life of outtheofpaper. the paper.

Telling Telling how.how.

Except Except instead instead Of showing Of showing you equipment you equipment I would I would first off firstshare off share My vision My vision of theofthing: the thing: the angle the angle of that of head that head Submerged Submerged in fixer in fixer there,there, the bare the bare Soul Soul in itsinset; itsyou set; see, you it’s see,done it’s done withwith speedspeed And And lighting lighting but my butpoint my point is that is one that never one never Gets Gets so close so close to anyone to anyone within within experience. experience.

I took I took These These pictures pictures of theofpeople the people in theinwar the war About About a yeara year ago—their ago—their handshands werewere opening opening to metolike me like Language; Language; tankstanks and dwellings and dwellings meanwhile meanwhile mistymisty in theinrear. the rear.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n21 • 21

th ethrac e rac e r ’ se rw i d ow ’ si dwow The The elements elements have have merged merged into into solicitude. solicitude.

Spasms Spasms of violets of violets rise above rise above the mud the mud And And weedweed and soon and soon the birds the birds and ancients and ancients Will Will be starting be starting to arrive, to arrive, bereaving bereaving points points South.

South.

But never But never mind. mind.

It is not It is painful not painful to discuss to discuss His death.

His death.

I have I have beenbeen primed primed for this, for this, For separation, For separation, for soforlong. so long.

But still But his stillface his face assaults assaults Me, IMe, canI hear can hear that car thatcareen car careen again,again, the crowd the crowd coagulate coagulate on asphalt on asphalt In my Insleep. my sleep.

And And watching watching him,him, I feelI my feellegs my like legs snow like snow ThatThat let him let him finally finally let him let him go go As heAslies hedraining lies draining there.there.

And And see see HowHow eveneven he did henot did get nottogetkeep to keep that lovely that lovely body.body.

22 22

p ort p ort ra i ra t of it o thf ethqu e equ e ne ei n tear i n tear s s As my Asfather, my father, the late the star, late once star, once told told me, me, Son, Son, he told he told me, son, me, and son, all andthe allwhile the while ThatThat emerald emerald fortune fortune mewing mewing on his onpinky, his pinky, SatinSatin wallowing wallowing aboutabout his shoulders his shoulders WithWith his latest his latest wife,wife, fat fat Misfit, Misfit, so profoundly so profoundly straight straight She tried She tried to own to own me inmeher inRolls her Rolls As Muriel, As Muriel, my mother, my mother, spread spread theirtheir staircase staircase WithWith the surfeit the surfeit of her ofdress her dress Before Before that party that party wound wound up inuptheingarden. the garden.

Where—myself!

Where—myself! myself!—O myself!—O oven-ovenfreshfresh and black and black fromfrom Mexico—they Mexico—they kept kept me me Soloing Soloing rightright into into dawndawn When When the musicians the musicians quit quit as, faras,away, far away, The The pool pool foamed foamed withwith dim,dim, lit chickies lit chickies ... ...

Past which, Past which, in that in still that grass still grass Beyond Beyond the canopies, the canopies, my father’s my father’s ex- exProducer Producer drifted drifted petalspetals on her onlifted her lifted mound mound As Mama As Mama held held the gauze the gauze bodybody of some of some girl across girl across Her Her legs .legs . . I .have . . I have not always not always livedlived like this, like this, You You know. know.

And And yet my yetsequined, my sequined, consequential consequential past past Enables Enables me tomebear to bear thesethese shrieking shrieking nights nights And And disasters. disasters.

I do Inot do mean not mean you. you.

No, you, No, you, love,love, Are as Are delightful as delightful as those as those coupled coupled dancers dancers strung strung Like Like handhand propsprops downdown the back the back lawnlawn Of my Offormer my former mansion, mansion, Wherever Wherever that was, that was, or asor I was as I was When When my mother’s my mother’s boys boys would would rise and rise stir and stir Like Like dogs dogs for me, for make me, make offers, offers, Women Women oozing oozing fromfrom theirtheir stays stays Go wild Go wild . . . I .also . . I was also awas hota property hot property in those in those days.days.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n23 • 23

b ri bdal r i dal p i e cp iee c e Our Our honeymoon honeymoon He planted He planted us byus by Water.

Water.

It wasIt March. was March.

The The moon moon Lurched Lurched like searchlights, like searchlights, like like His murmurings His murmurings acrossacross my brain— my brain— He had He to hadhave to have his way. his As way.down As down The The beachbeach the wet the wind wet wind Snored Snored . . . I .want . . I want My innocence.

My innocence.

I see I see My family My family frozen frozen in theindoorway the doorway Now,Now, unchanged, unchanged, unchanged. unchanged.

TheirTheir rice congeals rice congeals Around Around his car. hisHe car.locked He locked our bedroll our bedroll In the Intrunk the trunk for laughs, for laughs, later,later, at theatdeep the deep End.End. Rockaway.

Rockaway.

He reaches He reaches for me forinmehisinsleep. his sleep.

24 24

my my ne i ne g hibgor h b oi nr ti nh et hmei rro m i rro r r M. leM. professeur le professeur in prominent in prominent senility senility Across Across the hall the tidies hall tidies his collected his collected proseprose And And poems. poems.

Returning Returning fromfrom a shopping a shopping spreespree Not Not long long ago, Iago, caught I caught him him pausing pausing to pose to pose Before Before the landing the landing mirror mirror in grandiose in grandiose semi-profile. semi-profile.

It being It being impossible impossible to avoid to avoid encounter encounter on the onstairs the stairs I thought I thought it best it to bestsmile to smile Openly, Openly, as though as though we two we held two held equalequal sharesshares In the Inindiscretion. the indiscretion.

But his Butperformance his performance of a nod of a nod Was Was labored labored and the andinfinite the infinite politesse politesse of rose of rose palmpalm Unfurled Unfurled for salutation for salutation fraudfraudulent.ulent.

At any At rate, any rate, latelylately there’s there’s beenbeen somesome Change Change in hisinschedule. his schedule.

He receives He receives without without zeal zeal Now,Now, and, and, judging judging by hisbyrefuse, his refuse, eats little eats little but oatmeal. but oatmeal.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n25 • 25

my my l i f el ibf e f bor e feor daw e daw n n Sometimes Sometimes at night at night I think I think of how of how we did we did It, meIt,nailed me nailed in her inlike her steel, like steel, her her Over-eager Over-eager on the onstriped the striped contour contour SheetSheet (I later (I later burned burned it) and it) itand makes it makes me glad me glad I toldI told her—in her—in the kitchen the kitchen cutting cutting homemade homemade bread— bread— She always She always did too did much—I too much—I told told her Sorry her Sorry babybaby you have you have had had YourYour share.share.

(I found (I found her stain her stain had dried had dried into into my hair.) my hair.)

She cried.

She cried.

Which Which still does still does not explain not explain my nightmares: my nightmares: HowHow she surges she surges like her likeyeast her yeast dough dough through through the doorthe doorway shrieking way shrieking It is I, It love, is I, love, backback in living in living colorcolor AfterAfter all these all these years.years.

26 26

th ethlady e lady i n th i n eths ien sgilneg l e Cloistered Cloistered as theassnail the snail and conch and conch In Edgartown In Edgartown where where the Atlantic the Atlantic RisesRises to deposit to deposit junk junk On plush, On plush, extensive extensive sand sand and the andpedantic the pedantic MeetMeet for tea, foramid tea, amid brouhaha brouhaha I have I have managed managed this peripheral this peripheral still, still, Wading Wading just steps just steps below below The The piles piles of overkill: of overkill: Jellyfish.

Jellyfish.

But IBut have I have seen seen The The slick slick return return of one of that one oozed that oozed backback On aOn breaker. a breaker.

Marketable Marketable sheen. sheen.

The The stuffed stuffed hotel.hotel.

A shy, A myopic shy, myopic SailorSailor lovedloved me once, me once, near near here.here.

The The summer summer househouse we’dwe’d takentaken for July for July Was Was whitewhite that year, that year, bare bare Shingle; Shingle; he could he could barely barely see see To kiss, To still kiss,tried still tried to play to play Croquet Croquet withwith the family—like the family—like a girla almost, girl almost, WithWith loosed loosed hair on hairher onbouquet her bouquet Of compensating Of compensating flowers. flowers.

I thought I thought I wasI past was past The The memory. memory.

And And yet his yetghost his ghost TookTook shapeshape in smoke in smoke aboveabove the pan the roast. pan roast.

Five Five years.years.

In tenebris In tenebris the catapulted the catapulted heartheart drones drones Like Like Andromeda.

Andromeda.

No one No telephones. one telephones.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n27• 27

th ethc eri cp prli pe pilne th i n ethsue bway su bway For awhile For awhile I thought I thought had gotten had gotten UsedUsed to it to (the it (the leg) and leg) hardly and hardly heardheard ThatThat down-hard, down-hard, down-hard down-hard Upon Upon wood, wood, cement, cement, etc. of etc. theofiron the iron Trappings Trappings and I’d andtell I’dmyself tell myself the memories the memories Would Would also disappear, also disappear, tick-ticking jump-ropes ing jump-ropes and the andbike, the bike, the bike the bike ThatThat flew flew beneath beneath my sister, my sister, frozefroze Light, Light, bent bent backback its its Stinging Stinging in a flash in a flash of redofchrome red chrome brighter brighter ThanThan my brace my brace or brighter or brighter ThanThan the morning the morning whirling whirling past this past pit this pit Flamed Flamed withwith rush rush horror horror and their and their thin thin BootsBoots flashing flashing on and on on, andall on,that all easy that easy kidskin. kidskin.

28 28

nurnur se ’sses’s ong song As though As though I’m fooled.

I’m fooled.

ThatThat lacy body lacy body managed managed to forget to forget ThatThat I have I have eyes,eyes, ears; ears; daresdares to spring to spring her boyfriends her boyfriends on the onchild. the child.

This This afternoon afternoon she told she told me, “Dress me, “Dress the baby the baby in hisincrochet his crochet Dress,” Dress,” and smiled. and smiled.

Just that.

Just that.

Just smiled, Just smiled, Going.

Going.

She isShe never is never here.here.

O innocence, O innocence, youryour bathinet bathinet Is clogged Is clogged withwith gossip, gossip, she’s she’s a sinking a sinking ship, ship, YourYour mother. mother.

Wouldn’t Wouldn’t spoilspoil her breasts. her breasts.

I hearI hear youryour deaf-numb deaf-numb papa papa fussing fussing for his fortea. hisSleep, tea. Sleep, sleep,sleep, My angel, My angel, nestled nestled withwith youryour orange orange bear.bear.

Scream Scream whenwhen her lover her lover pats your pats your hair. hair.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n29• 29

s e con s e cdond s s Craved, Craved, having having so long so long gonegone Empty, Empty, whatwhat he had, he had, hardness hardness ThatThat (my boy (my half-grown) boy half-grown) Still sucked Still sucked me toward me toward that ring, that ring, that blessthat blessing. Though ing. Though I knew I knew how how it is sickness it is sickness In him: In him: lounging lounging in gin in gin He knots He knots somesome silkensilken threatthreat untiluntil He’llHe’ll twisttwist my arm, my arm, my words—my my words—my son son Stands Stands rigidrigid in theindoorway, the doorway, seeing seeing all, all, And And then then that fast thatfist fastrips fist across rips across my only my only Child, Child, my life my. life . . I .care, . . I care, I care.

I care.

I watch I watch the neighbors the neighbors coming coming at meat me WithWith theirtheir views. views.

NowNow hugehuge withwith cake cake theirtheir White White face face floatsfloats aboveabove its cup; its cup; they they smile,smile, Sunken Sunken women, women, sucking sucking at their at their tea . tea .. ...

I’d letI’dmy lethouse my house go upgoinupflame in flame for this for fire. this fire.

30 30

let let te rtef r ofmr oou m rouman r man i n bi nlobslo s osms toimmtei m e Often Often an easterly an easterly churns churns Emerald Emerald feathered feathered fernsferns Calling Calling to mind to mind AuntAunt Rae’sRae’s decrepit decrepit Framed Framed fan asfan it as it MustMust have have flickered flickered in itsinheyday. its heyday.

Black-eyed Black-eyed Susans Susans rim blueberry. rim blueberry.

Display, Display, However, However, is all isonallthe onoutside. the outside.

Let me Letdescribe me describe the utter the utter Simplicity Simplicity of our of housekeeping. our housekeeping.

The The waterwater Stutters Stutters fits and fits starts and starts in both in both sinks,sinks, remaining remaining Dependably Dependably pure pure ice; veining ice; veining The The ceiling, ceiling, a convention a convention of leaks of leaks Makes Makes host host of our of home our home to any to and any all andweather. all weather.

Everything Everything creaks: creaks: Floor, Floor, shutters, shutters, the door. the door.

Still, Still, We have We have the stupendously the stupendously adequate adequate scenery scenery to keep to keep our morale our morale Afloat.

Afloat.

And And eveneven Margaret’s Margaret’s taking taking mouseholes mouseholes in theinmolding the molding FairlyFairly well well in stride. in stride.

But O Butmy Ofriend, my friend, I’m holding I’m holding BackBack epiphany. epiphany.

Last night, Last night, MoreMore acutely acutely than than for any for first any time, first time, her white her white Forearms, Forearms, baredbared in ruthin ruthless battle less battle withwith the dinner, the dinner, pierced pierced me; Ime; sawI saw Venus Venus among among thosethose clamshells, clamshells, raw raw Botticelli: Botticelli: I have I have known known no happiness no happiness so based so based in truth. in truth.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n31 • 31

th ethc e lcl e l l ( Jeanne ( Jeanne des Anges, des Anges, Prioress Prioress of the ofUrsuline the Ursuline nuns, nuns, Loudun, Loudun, France: France: 1635 )1635 )

It’s always It’s always there.there.

My back’s My back’s Bulging Bulging through through linen:linen: God God Damaged Damaged me—made me—made UnfitUnfit to guide, to guide, I guide.

I guide.

Yet are Yetthey are they silentsilent at their at their work.work.

I walk I walk The The garden garden in theinafternoon, the afternoon, who who hid hid Delusions Delusions underunder my habits my habits For my Forself mywas self empty was empty . . . But . . . HE But did HE did It, yes.

It, yes.

My Father, My Father, LyingLying here,here, I hearI hear The The sun creak sun creak past granite past granite Into Into air, still air,itstill is night it is night inside. inside.

I hide I hide and pray. and pray.

And And dawn, dawn, Alone Alone all ways, all ways, I canI feel can the feelfingers the fingers Stir on Stirme onagain me again like blesslike blessing and ing the andbare the bare Hump Hump mount, mount, tranquil tranquil in darkness. in darkness.

32 32

th et hi slande e i sland r er SugarSugar I amIcalling am calling you. you.

Not Not Journeyed Journeyed all these all these yearsyears for this: for this: You You stalking stalking chicken chicken in theinsubways, the subways, Nights Nights hunched hunched in alleys in alleys all toallgetto get ThatThat pinchpinch . . . O. .heartbit, . O heartbit, Fastened Fastened to the tochair. the chair.

The The supper’s supper’s freezing freezing in theindark. the dark.

While While I, myI,prince, my prince, my prince my prince ... ...

YourYour fruit fruit lightslights up. up.

I watch I watch youryour handshands pulling pulling at theatgrapes. the grapes.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n33 • 33

let le tetrt ef r om f r om p r ov p rov e n ceen c e Beside Beside the bridge’s the bridge’s photogenphotogenic lapse ic lapse into into air you’ll air you’ll FindFind moremore interesting interesting material. material.

In July In the Julysun the sun Flatters Flatters youryour Popes’ Popes’ delicate delicate City City as always, as always, turning turning granite granite Gold.Gold.

The The slum’sslum’s at standstill at standstill then,then, Choking Choking withwith droppings. droppings.

Still Still Its children Its children are not are entirely not entirely hostile; hostile; Proffer Proffer smiles smiles At intervals At intervals mostmost charmingly. charmingly.

I gaveI gave Them Them chocolate, chocolate, softened softened in theinheat, the heat, Which Which they they would would not not Go near.

Go near.

We heard We heard they they live on livelove. on love.

34 34

m e mmoe mf o r ofmr oth m ethcav e cav e e O love, O love, you airtight you airtight bird,bird, My mouse-brown My mouse-brown AlibisAlibis hanghang upside-down upside-down Above Above the pegboard the pegboard WithWith its dangled its dangled pots pots I don’t I don’t have have chickens chickens for; for; My lies Myare liescrawling are crawling on the onfloor the floor Like Like families families but their but their larvaelarvae will not will not LeaveLeave this nest. this nest.

I’ve let I’ve let Despair Despair bed bed Down Down in your in your steadstead And And wet wet Our Our quilted quilted covercover So the Sorotthe rotscentscent of itsofpussy-footits pussy-footing fingers ing fingers lingers, lingers, whenwhen it’s over. it’s over.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n35 • 35

f i r st f i rbor st bnor n The The weeks weeks go by. goI by. shelve I shelve them,them, TheyThey are allarethe allsame, the same, like peeled like peeled soupsoup cans cans ... ...

BeansBeans sour sour in their in their pot. Ipot. watch I watch the lone the lone onion onion Floating Floating like Ophelia, like Ophelia, cakedcaked withwith grease: grease: You You listless, listless, fidgetfidget withwith the spoon. the spoon.

WhatWhat now?now?

You You miss miss my care? my care?

YourYour yard yard ripens ripens To a To ward a ward of roses, of roses, like alike yeara year ago when ago when staff nuns staff nuns Wheeled Wheeled me down me down the aisle the aisle ... ...

You You couldn’t couldn’t look.look.

I sawI saw Converted Converted love,love, youryour son, son, Drooling Drooling underunder glass,glass, starving starving ... ...

We are Weeating are eating well.well.

Today Today my meatman my meatman turnsturns his trained his trained knifeknife On veal, On veal, youryour favorite. favorite.

I payI with pay with my life. my life.

36 36

la fla orc f orc e e MadeMade me what me what I am.I am.

Gray,Gray, gluedglued to her todream her dream Kitchen, Kitchen, among among bones, bones, among among thesethese Dripping Dripping willows willows squatted squatted to imbed to imbed A bulb: A bulb: I tend I tend her plot. her plot.

Her Her pridepride And And joy she joysaid. she said.

I have I have no pride. no pride.

The The lawnlawn thins;thins; overfed, overfed, Her Her late roses late roses gag on gagfertilizer on fertilizer past the pasttool the tool House.

House.

NowNow the cards the cards are cut. are cut.

She cannot She cannot eat, she eat,cannot she cannot take take the stairs— the stairs— My life Myislife sealed. is sealed.

The The woman woman withwith the hound the hound Comes Comes up but upshe butwill she not will be notharmed. be harmed.

I have I have the care the care of her. of her.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n37• 37

th ethgam e gam e e And And yet I’ve yet lived I’ve lived like this like for thisyears. for years.

All since All since he quit he quit me—caught me—caught the moon the moon as round as round as aspirin as aspirin While, While, acrossacross the hall, the hall, the heartfelt the heartfelt murmurs murmurs Of the Ofqueers the queers . . . I .see . . Imy seepunishment my punishment revolving revolving in itsinden: its den: Around.

Around.

Around.

Around.

There There should should have have beenbeen A lesson A lesson somewhere. somewhere.

In Geneva, In Geneva, the ferocious the ferocious locallocal whore whore Lay peeled Lay peeled for absolution for absolution withwith a tricot a tricot membrane membrane Sticking Sticking to her toskin. her skin.

I don’t I don’t remember remember HowHow it happened it happened that Ithat saw.I The saw. The placeplace was filthy. was filthy.

She would She would sit sit And And pick pick her feet her until feet until they they knocked. knocked.

Like Like Customs.

Customs.

She’dShe’d just wait. just wait.

38 38

i i i i i i cot cot tonmouth tonmouth count count ry ry

cotctonm ot tonm outou h th c oucnou t ry n t ry Fish Fish bonesbones walked walked the waves the waves off Hatteras. off Hatteras.

And And therethere werewere otherother signssigns ThatThat Death Death wooed wooed us, byus,water, by water, wooed wooed us us By land: By land: among among the pines the pines An uncurled An uncurled cottonmouth cottonmouth that rolled that rolled on moss on moss Reared Reared in theinpolluted the polluted air. air.

Birth, Birth, not death, not death, is theishard the hard loss. loss.

I know.

I know.

I alsoI left alsoaleft skina skin there.there.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n41• 41

ph eph nom e nom e naelna surv l sui va rv liva s ol sf o d feath d eath i n nan i n nan tuctuc ke tke t i

i

HereHere in Nantucket in Nantucket does does the tiny the soul tiny soul Confront Confront the water. the water.

Yet this Yet element this element is notis foreign not foreign soil; soil; I see Ithe seewater the water as extension as extension of myofmind, my mind, The The troubled troubled part,part, and waves and waves the waves the waves of mind of mind When When in Nantucket in Nantucket they they collapsed collapsed in epilepsy in epilepsy On the Onbare the bare shore. shore.

I see I see A shawled A shawled figurefigure whenwhen I amIasleep am asleep who who says, “Our says, “Our lives lives Are strands Are strands between between the miracles the miracles of birth of birth And And death. death.

I amISaint am Saint Elizabeth.

Elizabeth.

In my Inbasket my basket are knives.” are knives.”

Awake Awake I see INantucket, see Nantucket, the familiar the familiar earth.earth. ii

ii

Awake Awake I see INantucket see Nantucket but with but with this bell this bell Of voice Of voice I canI toll canyou toll token you token of regions of regions below below visible: visible: On the Onthird the third nightnight camecame A hurricane; A hurricane; my Saint my Saint Elizabeth Elizabeth camecame Not Not and nothing and nothing couldcould prevent prevent the rent the rent CraftCraft fromfrom its determined its determined end. Waves end. Waves dent-dented with ed with lightning lightning launched launched my loosed my loosed mast mast To flyTodownward, fly downward, I following.

I following.

TheyThey do not do tell not tell You You but bones but bones turned turned coralcoral still smell still smell AmidAmid forsaken forsaken treasure. treasure.

I have I have beenbeen past past WhatWhat you hear you hear in a shell. in a shell. iii iii Past what Past what you hear you hear in a shell, in a shell, the roar, the roar, Is theIstrue the true bottom: bottom: infamous infamous calm.calm.

The The doctor doctor Having Having shut shut the door the door sat me satdown, me down, tooktook ropesropes Out Out of reach, of reach, firearms, firearms, and with and with high high hopeshopes Promised Promised that Saint that Saint Elizabeth Elizabeth carried carried OnlyOnly foodstuffs foodstuffs or some or some flowers flowers for charity, for charity, nor was nor Iwas buried I buried 42 42

Under Under the vacation the vacation islandisland of Nantucket of Nantucket where where Beach Beach animals animals dwelldwell in relative in relative compatibility compatibility and peace. and peace.

Flies,Flies, snails.snails.

Asleep Asleep I sawI these saw these Beings Beings as complacent as complacent angels angels of theofland the land and air. and air.

When When dawndawn comes comes to the tosea’s the sea’s iv iv AcresAcres of shining of shining whitewhite bodybody in Nantucket in Nantucket I shallI shall not remember not remember otherwise otherwise but wear but wear a locket a locket WithWith my lover’s my lover’s hair inside hair inside And And walkwalk like alike bride, a bride, and wear and wear him him inside. inside.

FromFrom thesethese shallows shallows expands expands The The mercy mercy of theofsea. the sea.

My first My house first house shall shall be built be built on these on these sands,sands, My second My second in theinsea. the sea.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n43 • 43

easte east r es eas r s eas on on There There is almost is almost no sound no sound . . . only . . . only the redundant the redundant stir stir Of shrubs Of shrubs as perfumed as perfumed temperatures temperatures embalm embalm Our Our coast.coast.

I sawI the sawspreading the spreading gushgush of people of people withwith theirtheir palms. palms.

In Westchester, In Westchester, the crocus the crocus spreads spreads like cancer. like cancer.

This This will be willthe bedeath the death of me. of Ime. feelI the feelleaves the leaves closeclose in, in, Promise Promise threaten threaten fromfrom all sides all sides and above. and above.

It is not It is real. not The real. The greengreen seed-pod, seed-pod, flakyflaky dovedove Of the Ofbud the descend. bud descend.

The The rest isrest risen. is risen.

44 44

sc rap sc rap s s We had We codes had codes In our In house. our house.

Like Like Locks; Locks; they they said said We never We never lock lock Our Our doordoor to you. to you.

And And nevernever did. did.

TheirTheir bed bed Stood, Stood, spotless spotless as a tub as a .tub .. ...

I passed I passed it every it every day day For twenty For twenty years,years, untiluntil I went I went my way. my way.

My chore My chore Was Was marking marking time.time.

Gluing Gluing Relics Relics into into books books I sawI saw Myself Myself at seven at seven learning learning Distance Distance at myatmother’s my mother’s knee.knee.

My favorite My favorite snapshot snapshot of myof my Father Father shows shows him him pushing pushing fortyforty And And lyrical lyrical Above Above his firstborn’s his firstborn’s empty empty face. face.

The The usualusual miracle. miracle.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n45 • 45

th etht re etereh eouhse ou se The The pail droops pail droops on chain, on chain, rotten, rotten, Where Where the well’s the well’s beenbeen Rinsed Rinsed withwith bog, bog, as round as round and round and round The The reed-weed reed-weed rockets rockets downdown DeerDeer IslandIsland AmidAmid frosted frosted spheres spheres of acid: of acid: berryberry pick-picking. All ing.day All long day long I watched I watched the land the land breakbreak Up into Up into the ocean. the ocean.

Happened Happened long long ago, ago, And And lost—what lost—what isn’t—bits isn’t—bits of jetty of jetty go go TheirTheir private private ways,ways, or sink, or sink, trailing trailing water. water.

Little’s Little’s left. Past left. this Past window this window where where My mother’s My mother’s basil basil drowned drowned In salad, In salad, I canI see canour see orchard, our orchard, balsams balsams Clenched Clenched around around theirtheir birds.birds.

The The basil basil flourished flourished on on Neglect.

Neglect.

OpenOpen my room, my room, trees.trees.

Child’s Child’s come. come.

46 46

m e ri md e ri i an d i an LongLong IslandIsland Sound’s Sound’s Asleep: Asleep: no wind no wind Rustles Rustles downdown the inlet the inlet In the Insagging the sagging light light As, stalled As, stalled at at Vanishing, Vanishing, two Sunday two Sunday sailboats sailboats WaitWait it out, it out, Paralysis, Paralysis, or peace, or peace, Whichever, Whichever, and the anddrained the drained sun sun SinksSinks through through insects insects coalesced coalesced To mist, To mist, mosquitoes mosquitoes Rippling Rippling over over the muddy the muddy ocean. ocean.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n47• 47

late lat snow e snow SevenSeven yearsyears I watched I watched the next-door the next-door LadyLady strollstroll her empty her empty mate.mate.

One One May May he turned he turned his head his head to seeto see A chrysalis A chrysalis give give forthforth its kleenex its kleenex creature: creature: He’dHe’d forgotten forgotten whatwhat they they were.were.

But pleasant But pleasant days days she she Walked Walked him him up and up down. and down.

And And crooned crooned to him. to him.

He gurgled He gurgled fromfrom his wheelchair, his wheelchair, finally finally Dying Dying last Fall. last Fall.

I think I think the birds the birds camecame BackBack too soon too soon this year. this year.

The The slugsslugs HaveHave beenbeen extinguished extinguished by a by snow. a snow.

Still, Still, all the allsame, the same, She wasn’t She wasn’t young young herself. herself.

It must It must have have hurt hurt her legs her legs To push To push his weight his weight that way. that A way. lateA snow late snow hugshugs The The robins’ robins’ tree. tree.

I sawI itsaw come. it come.

The The mama mama withers withers on her oneggs. her eggs.

48 48

to to f lofrlo i da r i da Southward Southward floated floated over over The The vicious vicious little little houses, houses, downdown The The land.land.

Past Carolina, Past Carolina, where where The The bloom bloom beganbegan Beneath Beneath theirtheir throbbing throbbing clouds, clouds, they they fed usfed us Coldcuts, Coldcuts, free. We free.had We our had choice. our choice.

Below, Below, the seasons the seasons twist;twist; yearsyears RollRoll backward backward toward toward the can the can Like Like film,film, and the andmistake the mistake appears, appears, To scale, To scale, soundlessly. soundlessly.

The The signssigns LightLight up. Across up. Across the aisle the aisle An old Anman old man twitches twitches in hisinsleep. his sleep.

His mind His mind Will Will firm firm in time. in time.

His health His health Will Will meetmeet him him at theatterminal. the terminal.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n49• 49

th ethslav e slav e she i sh p ip Sir: Cruising Sir: Cruising for profit for profit CloseClose to Portsmouth to Portsmouth we have we have not not DoneDone well.well.

All winds All winds Quarrel Quarrel withwith our course our course it seems it seems and daily and daily the crew the crew whines whines For fresh For fresh womanwomanflesh flesh or blood or blood again.again.

No gain No gain Accumulates; Accumulates; this time this time I fearI with fear with reason. reason.

There’s There’s no no Other Other news.news.

A week A week ago ago We charged We charged a trader a trader stocked stocked withwith Africans Africans I knew I knew for royal for royal but their but their skin skin fixedfixed terrorterror in myinmen’s my men’s Eyes—against Eyes—against my will my they will they mounted mounted her and her in andtheinslow the slow Dawn Dawn off Georgia off Georgia stole stole her whole her whole Hold’s Hold’s gold gold and slew and slew that living that living cargo. cargo.

50 50

s o lsst oli cste i c e June’sJune’s edge.edge.

The The sun sun TurnsTurns kind.kind.

BirdsBirds wallow wallow in theinsob the of sobpure of pure air, air, Crated Crated fromfrom the coast the coast . . . Un. . . Unreal. real.

Unreal.

Unreal.

I see Ithe seecure the cure Dissolving Dissolving on the onscreen. the screen.

Outside, Outside, dozing dozing In itsInsty, itsthe sty,neighbors’ the neighbors’ offspring offspring SucksSucks its stuffed its stuffed monster, monster, givengiven Time.

Time.

And And now now the end the begins: end begins: Packaged Packaged words. words.

He purrs He purrs his need his need again.again.

The The rest isrest empty. is empty.

Stoned, Stoned, stonestoneblindblind she totters she totters to the tolock the lock Through Through webswebs of diapers. of diapers.

It is Christmas It is Christmas on the onclock, the clock, A year’s A year’s precise, precise, Terrible Terrible ascent, ascent, climaxed climaxed in ice. in ice.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n51 • 51

th ethi nlet e i nlet Words Words fail me. failThe me. The oceanocean traveling traveling stonestone Returns Returns turquoise; turquoise; smallsmall animals animals twinkle twinkle in a haze in a haze Of weed Of weed as this as or thisthat or sequence that sequence Of pod Of rattles pod rattles withwith complete complete delicacy delicacy on the onrotten the rotten vine.vine.

I know I know what’s what’s slipping slipping through through my fingers. my fingers.

In Hatteras In Hatteras the stones the stones werewere oiledoiled withwith mud.mud.

The The sunset sunset leaked leaked like steak like steak blood, blood, Sank,Sank, and my andcompanion my companion weaved weaved his fingers his fingers Through Through my fingers. my fingers.

Wood’s Wood’s Hole,Hole, Edgartown, Edgartown, the Vineyard the Vineyard in theinrain, the rain, The Vineyard The Vineyard not in nottheinrain, the rain, the rain the rain Fuming Fuming like snow like snow in Worcester, in Worcester, like gas likeingastheincoal the coal Country.

Country.

GrassGrass and goldenrod and goldenrod comecome to me, to me, Milkweed Milkweed covers covers me over, me over, and reed. and reed.

But this But riddle this riddle Has no Hasname: no name: I sawI asaw blind a blind babybaby try try To fix Toitsfixfists its in fiststendrils in tendrils Of itsOfmother’s its mother’s hair, hair, and get andair. getThe air. The air burns, air burns, The The seaweed seaweed hisseshisses in itsincistern its cistern ... ...

Waveside, Waveside, beside beside earth’s earth’s edge,edge, Before Before the toward-death the toward-death cartwheel cartwheel of theofsun, the sun, I dreamed I dreamed I wasI afraid was afraid and through and through the din the din Of birds, Of birds, the din, the the din,hurricane the hurricane of parting of parting sedgesedge Came Came to the todanger the danger lull. lull.

The The whitewhite weeds, weeds, whitewhite waves’ waves’ whitewhite Scalps Scalps dissolve dissolve in theinobliterating the obliterating light.light.

And And only only I, Shadrach, I, Shadrach, comecome backback alive alive and well. and well.

52 52

satur satur na lna ialia The The year year turns.turns.

The The wolf wolf takestakes backback her tit her tit As war As eats war at eats theatempire the empire Past this Past waxworks, this waxworks, the eternal the eternal city. city.

We have We have had our had round. our round.

WhatWhat LordsLords rise are risenot are of notRome: of Rome: now now northward northward somesome two-bit two-bit Vercingetorix Vercingetorix sharpens sharpens his will. his will.

A starA star Is born.

Is born. Caesar Caesar Snores Snores on his onperch his perch aboveabove the Senate. the Senate.

This This is history. is history.

Ice clogs Ice clogs the ducts; the ducts; my friend, my friend, I wake I wake to frost to frost On marble On marble and aand chill a chill men men take take for omen for omen Here.Here.

The The mythmyth contracts. contracts.

All cast All cast For comfort, For comfort, shunshun theirtheir works works to pray, to pray, Preening Preening for Judgment. for Judgment.

Judgment Judgment fails. fails.

One One year,year, Twenty—we Twenty—we are lost. are This lost. This month month the feasts the feasts begin. begin.

Token Token slavesslaves suck suck thosethose dripping dripping fowl fowl we offer we offer To insure To insure prosperity. prosperity.

f i r s ftibrosrt nb o •r n53 • 53