Traces (1)

Sun

your shadow not

of itself, a burning

display of incrimination.

~~~~~

Life Lines

along the line

you draw, another

longer one reigns

supreme.

~~~~~

Sense of Solitude

you want to impart,

dispense with it

like the wind

parting pines.

~~~~~

If it is

all the same

to you, I’ll take

all you have

and then some, too.

Poetry Workshop 101: How to Write a (Politically) Correct Poem

OK, class—

Put in

The right word

(Fuck)

In the right place

(Politicians)

At the right time

(Now)

I think

That’s just

Fine.

Lost in the Forest of Signs

I know wood is,

As numberless millions say,

Just another word,

But what

I just can’t see for the trees is

Where in the world 

Would we stand without it?

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?