graylightstreakingeachbarebranch,
eachsingletwig,alongoneside,
makinganothertree,ofglassyveins…
Thebirdstillsitsthere.Nowheseemstoyawn.
Thelittleblackdogrunsinhisyard.
Hisowner’svoicearises,stern,
“Yououghttobeashamed!”
Whathashedone?
Hebouncescheerfullyupanddown;
herushesincirclesinthefallenleaves.
Obviously,hehasnosenseofshame.
Heandthebirdknoweverythingisanswered,
alltakencareof,
noneedtoaskagain.
—Yesterdaybroughttotodaysolightly!
(AyesterdayIfindalmostimpossibletolift.)
NEWANDUNCOLLECTED
POEMS(1978–1979)
Santarém
OfcourseImayberememberingitallwrong
after,after—howmanyyears?
ThatgoldeneveningIreallywantedtogonofarther;
morethananythingelseIwantedtostayawhile
inthatconfluxoftwogreatrivers,Tapajós,Amazon,
grandly,silentlyflowing,flowingeast.
Suddenlythere’dbeenhouses,people,andlotsofmongrel
riverboatsskitteringbackandforth
underaskyofgorgeous,under-litclouds,
witheverythinggilded,burnishedalongoneside,
andeverythingbright,cheerful,casual—orsoitlooked.
Ilikedtheplace;Ilikedtheideaoftheplace.
Tworivers.Hadn’ttworiverssprung
fromtheGardenofEden?No,thatwasfour
andthey’ddiverged.Hereonlytwo
andcomingtogether.Evenifoneweretempted
toliteraryinterpretations
suchas:life/death,right/wrong,male/female
—suchnotionswouldhaveresolved,dissolved,straightoff
inthatwatery,dazzlingdialectic.
Infrontofthechurch,theCathedral,rather,
therewasamodestpromenadeandabelvedere
abouttofallintotheriver,
stubbypalms,flamboyantslikepansofembers,
buildingsonestoryhigh,stucco,blueoryellow,
andonehousefacedwith azulejos, buttercupyellow.
Thestreetwasdeepindark-goldriversand
dampfromtheritualafternoonrain,
andteamsofzebusplodded,gentle,proud,
and blue, withdown-curvedhornsandhangingears,
pullingcartswithsolidwheels.
Thezebus’hooves,thepeople’sfeet
wadedingoldensand,
damperedbygoldensand,
sothatalmosttheonlysounds
werecreaksand shush,shush,shush.
Tworiversfullofcrazyshipping—people
allapparentlychangingtheirminds,embarking,
disembarking,rowingclumsydories.
(AftertheCivilWarsomeSouthernfamilies
camehere;heretheycouldstillownslaves.
Theyleftoccasionalblueeyes,Englishnames,
and oars. Nootherplace,noone
onalltheAmazon’sfourthousandmiles
doesanythingbutpaddle.)
Adozenorsoyoungnuns,white-habited,
wavedgailyfromanoldstern-wheeler
gettingupsteam,alreadyhungwithhammocks
—offtotheirmission,daysanddaysaway
upGodknowswhatlosttributary.
Side-wheelers,countlesswobblingdugouts…
Acowstoodupinone,quitecalm,
chewinghercudwhilebeingferried,
tipping,wobbling,somewhere,tobemarried.
Ariverschoonerwithrakedmasts
andviolet-coloredsailstackedinsoclose
herbowspritseemedtotouchthechurch
(Cathedral,rather!).Aweekorsobefore
there’dbeenathunderstormandtheCathedral’d
beenstruckbylightning.Onetowerhad
awideningzigzagcrackallthewaydown.
Itwasamiracle.Thepriest’shouserightnextdoor
hadbeenstruck,too,andhisbrassbed
(theonlyoneintown)galvanizedblack.
Graçasadeus—he’dbeeninBelém.
Inthebluepharmacythepharmacist
hadhunganemptywasps’nestfromashelf:
small,exquisite,cleanmattewhite,
andhardasstucco.Iadmiredit
somuchhegaveittome.
Then—myship’swhistleblew.Icouldn’tstay.
Backonboard,afellow-passenger,Mr.Swan,
reallyaveryniceoldman,
whowantedtoseetheAmazonbeforehedied,
asked,“What’sthatuglything?”
1978
NorthHaven
inmemoriam:RobertLowell
Icanmakeouttheriggingofaschooner
amileoff;Icancount
thenewconesonthespruce.Itissostill
thepalebaywearsamilkyskin,thesky
noclouds,exceptforonelong,cardedhorse’s-tail.
Theislandshaven’tshiftedsincelastsummer,
evenifIliketopretendtheyhave
—drifting,inadreamysortofway,
alittlenorth,alittlesouthorsidewise,
andthatthey’refreewithinthebluefrontiersofbay.
Thismonth,ourfavoriteoneisfullofflowers:
Buttercups,RedClover,PurpleVetch,
Hawkweedstillburning,Daisiespied,Eyebright,
theFragrantBedstraw’sincandescentstars,
andmore,returned,topaintthemeadowswithdelight.
TheGoldfinchesareback,orotherslikethem,
andtheWhite-throatedSparrow’sfive-notesong,
pleadingandpleading,bringstearstotheeyes.
Naturerepeatsherself,oralmostdoes:
repeat,repeat,repeat;revise,revise,revise.
Yearsago,youtoldmeitwashere
(in1932?)youfirst“discovered girls”
andlearnedtosail,andlearnedtokiss.
Youhad“suchfun,”yousaid,thatclassicsummer.
(“Fun”—italwaysseemedtoleaveyouataloss…)
YouleftNorthHaven,anchoredinitsrock,
afloatinmysticblue…Andnow—you’veleft
forgood.Youcan’tderange,orre-arrange,
yourpoemsagain.(ButtheSparrowscantheirsong.)
Thewordswon’tchangeagain.Sadfriend,youcannotchange.
1978
PinkDog
[RiodeJaneiro]
Thesunisblazingandtheskyisblue.
Umbrellasclothethebeachineveryhue.
Naked,youtrotacrosstheavenue.
Oh,neverhaveIseenadogsobare!
Nakedandpink,withoutasinglehair…
Startled,thepassersbydrawbackandstare.
Ofcoursethey’remortallyafraidofrabies.
Youarenotmad;youhaveacaseofscabies
butlookintelligent.Whereareyourbabies?
(Anursingmother,bythosehangingteats.)
Inwhatslumhaveyouhiddenthem,poorbitch,
whileyougobegging,livingbyyourwits?
Didn’tyouknow?It’sbeeninallthepapers,
tosolvethisproblem,howtheydealwithbeggars?
Theytakeandthrowtheminthetidalrivers.
Yes,idiots,paralytics,parasites
gobobbingintheebbingsewage,nights
outinthesuburbs,wheretherearenolights.
Iftheydothistoanyonewhobegs,
drugged,drunk,orsober,withorwi
thoutlegs,
whatwouldtheydotosick,four-leggèddogs?
Inthecafésandonthesidewalkcorners
thejokeisgoingroundthatallthebeggars
whocanaffordthemnowwearlifepreservers.
Inyourconditionyouwouldnotbeable
eventofloat,muchlesstodog-paddle.
Nowlook,thepractical,thesensible
solutionistoweara fantasía.*
Tonightyousimplycan’taffordtobea-
neyesore.Butnoonewilleverseea
dogin máscarathistimeofyear.
AshWednesday’llcomebutCarnivalishere.
Whatsambascanyoudance?Whatwillyouwear?
TheysaythatCarnival’sdegenerating
—radios,Americans,orsomething,
haveruineditcompletely.They’rejusttalking.
Carnivalisalwayswonderful!
Adepilateddogwouldnotlookwell.
Dressup!DressupanddanceatCarnival!
1979
Sonnet
Caught—thebubble
inthespirit-level,
acreaturedivided;
andthecompassneedle
wobblingandwavering,
undecided.
Freed—thebroken
thermometer’smercury
runningaway;
andtherainbow-bird
fromthenarrowbevel
oftheemptymirror,
flyingwherever
itfeelslike,gay!
1979
UNCOLLECTEDPOEMS(1933–
1969)
TheFlood
Itfindstheparkfirst,andthetrees
turnwaveryandwet;
butalltheextinguishedtrafficknows
thatitwilldrownthesteeplesyet.
Thebatteredhouses,rowsofbrick,
areclearasquartz;thecolorthins
toamethyst,—thechimney-pots
andweather-vanesstickuplikefins.
Andslowlydownthefluidstreets
thecarsandtrolleys,goggle-eyed,
enamelledbrightlikegapingfish,
drifthomeonthesuburbantide.
Alongtheairyupperbeach
totheminutelyglitteringsky
twosand-pipershavestepped,andleft
fourstar-printshighanddry.
Beyondthetown,subaqueous,
thegreenhillschangetogreen-mossedshells;
andatthechurch,towarntheshipsabove,
eighttimestheyringthebells.
1933
AWordwithYou
Lookout!there’sthatdamnedapeagain
sitsilentlyuntilhegoes,
orelseforgetsthethingsheknows
(whatevertheyare)aboutus,then
wecanbegintotalkagain.
Haveyoutriedplayingwithyourring?
Sometimesthatcalmsthemdown,Ifind.
(Brightobjectshypnotizethemind.)
Gethisattentiononanything—
anythingwilldo—there,tryyourring.
Theglitterpleaseshim.Yousee
hesquintshiseyes;hisliphangsloose.
Youweresaying?—OhLord,what’stheuse,
fornowtheparrot’safterme
andthemonkeysareawake.Yousee
howharditis,youunderstand
thisnervousstraininwhichwelive—
Whyjustonelusciousadjective
infuriatesthewholedamnedband
andthey’resquabblingforit.Iunderstand
somepeoplemanagebetter.How?
Theytreatthecreatureswithoutfeeling.
—Throwbookstostopthemonkeys’squealing,
slaptheapeandmakehimbow,
arefirm,keeporder,—butIdon’tknowhow.
Quick!there’sthecockatoo!heheard!
(Hecan’tbearanyformofwit.)
—Pleasewatchoutthatyoudon’tgetbit;
there’snotathingescapesthatbird.
Besilent,—nowtheapehasoverheard.
1933
HymntotheVirgin
Pullbackthecurtains,quicknowthatwe’vecaughtthemoodof
Adoration’sshamefacedexposéandbrazenknee-bending.
Let’ssee,andquickaboutit,God’s-beard,Christ’scrown,baby-broodof
Strawberryice-creamcoloredcherubim,tin-winged,ascending
Chub-toesa’dangleearthwards,fat-fistsa-pat-a-cakeforThee,ohwooedof Erstwhileeye-raisedmortals!Showwhereyou’vebeenspending
Storageyearsinthatgreatattic,alltheredplushportieresfoodof
Sacramentingmoths,andallthegildedropesandtasselsspotted
Bythedoers-of-the-Wordflies,midstmagnificenceandplunderrotted!
Pullback,pullback
Andthroughthecrack
Glimpseofthedustygrandeur,faith’sfall’nparaphernaliarise!
Ah,onthedaisofthedazzled,dust-becloudedskies
Come,BlessedMary,standonair,
Roratecoelidesuper,
Strikeonoursensesstrongagainwithsmell-staleincense, Avecries Andredsandbluesandgolden-oaks.Weaeroplane-wiseraiseoureyes!
Weknowathingortwo
Mary,Mary,
WhichwewilltelltoYou,
Mary,Mary.
AsyouoncehousedtheTruth
Belly-within,
Whomelseshouldwetellitto,
You,without-sin?
Initsdueseason
FromThypureportals
Sansrhymeorreason
Truthcame.Wemortals
Intrustnowwistfully
IntoThytenderside
OurTruth,tokeep,tillit
Getsitselfcrucified.
Glor’ouseffulgence—
Timecannotdimit,
AlphaandOmega,
ThouarttheLimit.
Ah!wouldstnot,wax-faced,wooden-bodiedone,haveustoworshipus-wise?
TurnnotasideThypretty-paintedface,paradeandmeetouraudience-eyesyou must.
Long-hardenedcandle-greaseaboutThyfeet,andtarnisheddimesandnickels, thus-wise
Didpreviouspaltrypenny-clinkerscome,butwebearark-likeourgreattrust.
What,takeitnot?Ohpetulantandcrankyprincess,shallweforceitonThee lust-wise?
Wecannotbeartodrawthecurtainsback,leaveTheetobarrennessandrouging rust.
Come,BlessedMary,hearourprayer!
Come,BlessedMary,standonair—
Roratecoelidesuper!
1933
ThreeSonnetsfortheEyes
I/ TidalBasin
Withdrawingwaterwouldbethusdiscreet
Soastomakeusthink’twasinourmind
—Thatsickeningrupturehappeningthere.“Howblind
Areeyes!”saysit,(draggingitsslipperyfeet)
“Nowthey’releftvacanttruths,likeangeleyeson
Theoldgravestones;seeingintothegraves.
Yourownheartbeatyourowneyes’colortowaves
Andfillédbluethisfulltothehorizon.”
Ohwait!offthereitmendsrevengeoncolors,gains
Brilliantestinterestonitsinterruptedwealth…
Soonitalltheawfulsocket’llfleshtohealth,
Overthesunksidesstealitsirissweetblueveins.
Sightfromthesensesnotthuseasy’ssprung.Andsee
Thineeyesnew-spheréd,heldwhole,shinetothee!
II
Theyallkeptlookingateachother’seyes,
Look,hereIam,inhere!you’rewarm—ohlookagain!
Iknewyouknewallelsetheregapedinvain:
Staredeyesdull,wide-winked,squintedwrongsurmise
Andourssaidnothing,nothing;dumbmediator
Tothemthatglanceandturnedcheekfromitssweep
Andsinglesmile:(secondofunbrokennightlongsleep
Misunderstoodbyday)itsinstantowntranslator.
Thebirdscriedall,descendingontheelms
Asift’uprootthem,carrythembystormandsinging.
Thewinddroppedstiff;anarmoredsunwentringing
Downground,’sgoldsplintered.Eveningoverwhelms,
Wethought(Iknew we)’tfortunatelycovers
Withlashes,lidsofreticence,theseeyesthoselovers.
III
Thysensesaretoodifferenttopleaseme—
TouchImighttouch;wholethesplitdifference
Ontwentyfingers’tips.Buthearing’sthence
Longleaguesofthee,wherewildernessesincrease…See
Flesh-forests,nerve-vined,pain-star-blossomfull,
Tracklesstowheretremblesth’ears’eremite.
Andwherefromthereastrangerturnstosight?
Thineeyesnest,say,softshiningbirdsintheskull?
Eitherabovetheeorthygravestone’sgravenangel
EyesI’llstandandstare.Thesecret’sintheforehead
(Ratherthestructure’sgap)onceyouaredead.
Theyleavethatwaytogether,nomorestrange.I’ll
Lookinlostuponthoseneatestnestsofbone
Wheresteel-coiledspringshavelashedout,fly-wheelsflown.
1933
ThreeValentines
I
Lovewithhisgildedbowandcrystalarrows
Hasslainusall,
HaspiercedtheEnglishsparrows
Wholanguishforeachotherinthedust,
Whilefromtheirbosoms,puffedwithhopelesslust,
Thereddropsfall.
Therobins’wingsfanfev’risharcsandswirls
Attemptinghugs,
WhileVenuspatsherdarling’scurls
Andjusttopolishoffhisaim,suggests
Someunrequitedpassionsinthebreasts
Ofam’rousbugs.
See,upthere,pinkandplumpandsmuginsashes,
Thelittlebastardgrin,
Watchingtheprettyrainbowsonhislashes…
Ohsweet,sweetLove—gokickthynaughtyself
Aroundacloud,orprickthynaughtyself
Uponagildedpin.
II
NowaconundrumLovepropounds
Myheart:
YouwithhimselfmyLoveconfounds
Withperfectart,
UntilIswearIcannottellyoutwoapart.