Spirit Moth

Keep the light burning

But be not dazzled

Unto death.

The Sleight-Of-Hand Man

It doesn’t make sense—

We had almost no light left,

So this guy runs out and flies

Back into twilight before

We knew he had left.

Keeping the Rednecks on the Edge of Their Seats

We’ll be back with the latest breaking

Commercials after this short break

For the news, so you-all better

Be here when we get back,

D’ya hear?

Phil Levine (PLOTUS) and Madrona's Invitational Issue

While reading Joe Hutchison's recent

post about Phil Levine, I was reminded that the new Poet Laureate of the US was among the poets who generously agreed to send us something for Madrona's 1972 invitational issue. Other poets included w.j. higginson, Tomas Tranströmer translated by Robery Bly, William Stafford, Richard Hugo, James Merrill, Alan Dugan, Eve Triem, David Ignatow, David Wagoner, William Matchett, Beth Bentley, James Humphrey, Donald Finkel, Paul Zimmer and David Young, plus contributions from all three of the magazine’s editors.

Levine not only sent us the artfully handwritten poem above but also included a photograph of the woman he said he was in love with at that time. I assume Levine remembers the woman but wouldn’t it be nice to think he also remembers the magazine and the poem accompanying her picture?

Bird in the Bush

You can hedge

All you want

But I bet that bald

Eagle won’t be there when

You put your money

Where your beak was.