Poetry

Anthropitis

This dread disease was first recorded by An ancient commentator, who described The symptoms well but possibly relied Too much on hearsay. Be that as it may, It starts with fever followed by a chill, Then six full days of agony near death, Rapidity of pulse, shortness of breath, And diarrhea, though they have a…

Going to Chicago

for John Sinclair Leaving First On my way,                        ”Ave Atque Valium”                                                                        20 mgs.                                    & coffee                  Thanks to the Air Hostess            dark eyes     dark hair                                    red lips                  …

Sand

Night flashed instantly about the house, loudly roared and the sea was unheard. Lying beside me you slept through it your body thin as fusewire. Lying awake on one elbow I saw the beach fused in static and the sea was unheard while a body of air was shot through with light. Morning saw the…

Stage Directions

The wind is west, the season, fall, The time is now but also then, And some men wait while other men Watch fiercely westward, watching all And seeing nothing, nothing but The things of which they have been told. The sun is weak, the wind is cold, And something – they do not know what…

The Cave or The Mine

Everywhere you walk someone else is walking beneath you, in a cave or a mine. You’re sure of it. No matter where you are you can drop to your knees and hear the damp invitations, the buzzing of a hollow, silent place. You’d rather think of it as a mine. Men go down in mines,…

Crossing Tuscany

I have come far this month across greening Tuscany where the white road winds amid grey olive groves. It is seed time and the sower walks the field in the plough’s curled wake. I am reminded of two brothers: Lorenzetti, Sienese by birth and residence; they have recorded it all – this change of season…