The Intricate Evasions of As

Momentarily, as

In the absence
Of something, say

It was just one

Of those things
That appeared simply

To fill the silence,
Then went on

Its way.

Time for Another Danse Russe?

Hey, whatchamacallit,
don't you see

it's about time

this thingamajig was
moving in on you better

watch out now watch it,
what you call it calls

the tune.

(A rewrite of a poem that first appeared in Sentences (1976) under the title "William Carlos Williams".)

Chasing the Elusive Muse

Before you promise

To keep your word
To catch her,

You have to let her go.

Jack Sprat Robinson, Sleight-of-Hand Man

See?

He's got wife with can
Of sardines up un-

Canny ass,
Eats her whole

Before you can
Say Jack,

Where'd she go?

The Lure

wind-buffeted

solitary white

chapel's calling


seas bluff.