poems

PLAGUE IN THE HEAVENLY CITY

ALREADY THE FIREFLIES LIE DEAD AND DWINDLING ON THE WET JUNE GRASS…
WHILE MY LOVE IMPERIAL DEATH DENIES AN AUDIENCE
LIKE SOME POOR PROVINCIAL COME TO PEKING FOR THE FIRST TIME
WITH NO FRIENDS, NOT EVEN A EUNUCH TO SPEAK FOR HIM..
BITING HIS BLISTERED LIPS
WRITHING WHILE WAITING ON THE COLD JADE FLOORS
AND ALREADY THE FIREFLIES LIE DEAD.

THE WINTER DREAM WHAT DID ED MEAN WHEN HE WROTE “STILL”

HE WONDERED WITH A SMILE ALL THROUGH THE ICE COLD, CLEAR MORNING, AS HE REMEMBERED THE DREAM IN WHICH HIS DEAD LOVER LEFT A NOTE BY HIS BED SAYING, “I STILL LOVE YOU”

DAVID’S SONG

I WOULD GATHER UP YOUR ARROWS, AIN’T NO MATTER WHERE THEY FALL
THO’ I LOVE THE HILLS OF HEBRON, I LOVE YOU MOST OF ALL
IF THEY LAND ACROSS THE RIVER, CROSS THAT JORDAN WIDE AND BLUE
I’D STILL FIND THEM FOR YOUR QUIVER AND BRING THEM BACK TO YOU

FOUR TIMES SIX TIMES NINE TIMES SEVEN, FOUR TIMES THREE TIMES TEN TIMES FOUR
NUMBER ALL THE STARS IN HEAVEN, YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU MORE

NOW YOUR DADDY, HE’S A RICH MAN AND HIS KINGDOM SOON YOU’LL OWN
AND I AM JUST A SHEPHERD WITH AND OLD SLING AND A STONE
NUMBER ALL THE STARS IN HEAVEN, ALL THE TENTS IN GALLILEE
NUMBER ALL THE STONES IN EGYPT AND MULTIPLY BY THREE

FOR THERE’S TROUBLE OVER YONDER, THEY SAY SOON THERE ‘LL BE WAR
YOU’LL PUT ON YOUR SILVER HELMET, I AM VERY SURE
YOU’LL FIGHT BESIDE YOUR FATHER, IN A CHARIOT YOU’LL RIDE
IF YOU NEED ME, SEND A MESSAGE AND I’LL RUN TO YOUR SIDE

AT THE MOUNTAIN OF GILBOA, ALL THE STREAMS WERE RUNNING RED
SAUL WAS CRUELLY SLAUGHTERED AND JONATHAN’S SWEET HEAD
IT WAS TAKEN DOWN TO GAZA, IN THEIR TEMPLE IT WAS LAIN
THEN THEY BROUGHT THE NEWS TO DAVID, YOUR DEAR FRIEND’S BEEN SLAIN

HOW I LOVED THAT PRINCE OF JUDAH!,
HOW I LOVED THAT SON OF SAUL!
I’LL BE 14 DAYS A WAILING, DOWN BY THE WAILING WALL

FOR HIS LOVE WAS LIKE AN ARROW, AND MY LOVE WAS LIKE A BOW
AND MY HEART IS ALL A QUIVER, DEAR GOD, I LOVE HIM SO

THEE DEATH OF HART CRANE- APRIL 27,1932

DID YOU HEAR THE FANFARE OF CONCH SHELLS?
DID PERCY SHELLEY COME FOR YOU RIDING A DOLFIN, HIS WET DARK
RINGLETS DOWN TO HIS SHOULDERS, LIKE THAT BOY ONCE IN
MARTINIQUE HANGING AROUND THE STAUE OF THE EMPRESS
JOSEPHINE?

DID YOU NOTICE THE WIDE SPENDRIFT GAZE OF THE SEAL TOWARD
PARADISE BEFORE YOU BOTH WENT UNDER?

DID SEA HORSES GALLOP YOU DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA
WHERE THE TIDES SHOOT CRAPS WITH THE KNUCKLEBONES OF
DROWNED SAILORS?

FULL FATHOM FIVE THE FAGGOT LIES…

DID GOOD OLD WALT WHITMAN WITH A BEARD FULL OF BUTTERFLY FISH
EMBRACE YOU, WELCOME YOU, AND ARM AND ARM BETWEEN HIM AND HIS BOYFRIEND LEAD YOU ACROSS THE SUNKEN BRIDGE TO ATLANTIS?

OR WERE THE LAST WORDS YOU HEARD, “THANKS A MILLION FOR
BLOWING US, FAIRY, NOW YOU CAN SWIM FOR IT,” AS THE SAILORS LIT
UP THEIR LUCKY STRIKES NOT LOOKING AT ONE ANOTHER IN THE FACE.

GEORGE ISHERWOOD, AMSTERDAM, JAN 2009

PROFESSIONAL JEALOUSY-EPHESUS- 210BC

EVEN AFTER I PISSED IN HIS MASK, HE STUMBLED OUT ONTO THE
AMPHITHEATER ON CUE, HIS HEAD SHAKING WILDLY FROM THE RANCID
YELLOW SMELL AND BROUGHT 30,000 EPHESIANS TO THEIR FEET,
APPLAUDING A NEW MEDEA STAGGERING DRUNK ON UNMIXED LUST FOR
REVENGE, YET STILL THIRSTY FOR MORE MURDER.

WHILE I SING HERE IN THE CHORUS, HIS FAME GROWS EVEN TO
ALEXANDRIA. HE HAS LEFT THIS LITTLE TOWN TO PLAY IN THE CITY OF
THE PTOLEMIES.

NOW AT LAST I UNDERSTAND HOW LIKE A SHEPHERD, DIONYSOS
WATCHES OVER HIS OWN

GEORGE ISHERWOOD, AMSTERDAM 2007

GRENADA, 1492

IBN BIN JUSEF WAS WATCHING THE REFLECTION OF THE FLOWERS IN THE POND, WONDERING CAN WE EVER SEE ANYTHING BUT REFLECTIONS IN GOD’S EYE, WHEN SCREAMING MADE HIM TURN . “DEATH TO THE CHRIST KILLERS!”

SARAH,THE YOUNGEST DAUGHTER OF HIS GOOD FRIEND RABBI JOCOB BEN ISRAEL, WHO HAD PROBABLY BEEN TORN APART FROM THE ANGRY MOB, GRABBED HIM BY THE KNEES. BEHIND HER WERE ANGRY CHRISTIANS WITH CROSSES AND CLUBS. THE FRIGHTENED GIRL’S HEADSCARF HAD BEEN TORN FROM HER HEAD AND SHE WAS BLEEDING OVER HER LEFT EYE.

“UNCLE, PLEASE SAVE ME,” SHE CRIED LOOKING UP TO HIM.

IBN STARED DOWN THE MOB AND SAID, “STOP! THIS GIRL HAS NOT KILLED YOUR SAVIOR!

THE CROWD GREW STILL.

“LOOK AT THE COOL, DARK WATERS OF THIS POND. AMONG THE LILIES LIVE GOLD FISH, WHITE FISH AND BLACK FISH. YOU CHRISTIANS THINK YOU ARE THE GOLD FISH, THE JEWS THINK THEY ARE THE GOLD FISH AND EVEN SOME OF US THINK WE ARE THE GOLD FISH. THEN HE TOOK A PIECE OF BREAD AND CRUMBLED IT IN HIS HANDS. HE THREW THE BITS INTO THE WATER. JUST AS ALL THE FISH ARE FED BY THIS BREAD, ALL OF US ARE NOURISHED THE WORD OF GOD.”

THAT’S WHEN THE STONE HIT HIM IN THE FOREHEAD WITH A CRACK AND THE OLD MAN FELL BACK INOT THE POND . THE FISH SWAM AWAY FROM THE REDDENING WATER.

GOUDIMEL

LYONS, AUGUST, 1572

(AFTER THE MARRIAGE OF MARGOT DE VALOIS TO HENRI DE BOURBON
ON ST BARTHOLOMEW’S DAY)

‘PROTESTANTISM EVAPORATES INTO CELESTIAL MUSIC”
THE OLD PHILOSOPHER WAS HEARD TO SAY AND PERHAPS, HE WAS
RIGHT FOR CLAUDE GOUDIMEL UNDER EVERYTHING, COULD STILL HEAR
THE REGULAR LAPPING OF THE RIVER….

BENEATH THE CRYING OF THE LITTLE CHILDREN SHOCKED TO SEE
THEIR NAKED MOTHERS’ SHORN LIKE SHEEP…

UNDER THE MINDLESS HIGH- PITCHED SCREAMING OF THE RECENTLY
RELIGIOUS WHORES, WHO THREW DUNG ONTO THE BATTERED SAINTS
CRYING…
”HE’S AN ASS, AN ASS, WHO AVOIDS THE MASS! AN ASS! AN ASS!”

BELOW THE POOR OLD DEACONS AND THEIR WIVES STILL TRYING TO
SING THEIR BLEEDING PSALMS WITHOUT TONGUES…

HIS FLEMISH MASTER, THE SON OF OLD OCKEGHEM, HAD ONCE TOLD
HIM,” MENEER CLAUDE”, AS HE PUT HIS HAND ON HIS PUPIL’S
SHOULDER,
”THE FIRST NOTE OF YOUR COMPOSITION MUST LEAD QUITE
NATURALLY TO THE LAST,

LIKE AN EGG TO A NEW BORN CHICKEN, IT IS POLYPHONY THAT KEEPS
THE EGG WARM UNTIL THE MELODY HATCHES AND INDEED, THAT IS
WHY WE WRITE OUR MUSICAL NOTES SO ROUNDLY.” THE FLEMING
RAISED HIS GRAY EYEBROWS AND SMILED.

THEN THEY BOUND GOUDIMEL’S HANDS TIGHTLY BEHIND HIM.

JUST SO DID THE THE FIRST MORNING HE FIRST HEARD THE SINGING
OF
’”DIEU MON BERGER ME CONDUIT….”
IN THE FIELDS OUTSIDE VIENNE,
LEAD HIM TO THIS AFTERNOON IN LYONS, AND GOD WILLING,
TO HIS END?

THEY WEIGHTED DOWN HIS FEET WITH CHAINS, AND LIKE AN
UNWANTED KITTEN, STUFFED HIM IN A SACK AND THREW HIM INTO THE
RHONE.

THE WATER WAS WARM THAT AUGUST. DOWN IT WAS COOLER.

AS HIS FEET SUNK INTO THE RIVER BED, MUD ROSE AND ALL WENT
BLACK, WATER CASCADED INTO HIS LUNGS, LOUDER THAN THE
RHINEFALL AT SCHAFFHAUSEN AND HE WONDERED,
HOW COULD HE FEEL JESUS’ HAND ON HIS SHOULDER
AND WAS GOD LISTENING WITH HIM TO THIS LAST SILENCE?

BY GEORGE ISHERWOOD, 2006

IKARUS-60AD.

THE FATHER HAD ALREADY CLIMBED THE HIGH SCAFFOLD.

A THOUSAND SLAVES UNDER THE WHIP HAULED A HUNDRED HAWSERS
TO RAISE THE ENORMOUS SUN OVER THE HEADS OF THE AUDIENCE.

THE BOY WAS A DELIGHT TO THE CONNOISEUR’S EYE OF THE
EMPEROR.

“HE SEEMS MORE LIKE THE SON OF APHRODITE, THAN OF A MERE
INVENTOR!,” THOUGHT THE SON OF THE DIVINE CLAUDIUS.

BY ZEUS! HIS SLENDER WAIST, A LIGHT WHISP OF HAIR LEADING DOWN
TO A BULGING LOINCLOTH AND GOLDEN RINGLETS RARE FOR A
THRACIAN. HE IS NOT YET TWENTY NOR BEARDED…IF…ONLY…

BUT THEN WE ALL MUST MAKE SACRIFICES FOR THE STATE. HADN’T HE
SACRIFICED HIS OWN ” BEST OF ALL MOTHERS” FOR SAFETY OF THE
PEOPLE AND SENATE OF ROME?

HE PROMISED THE BOY HIS FREEDOM AND THE SAME FOR HIS FATHER
AND ALL THE FAMILY, FUTURE IMPERIAL ENGAGEMENTS ON THE BAY
OF NAPLES, IN THE ARENA OF POMPEII , IN HERCULANEUM TOO, AND
A FAT PURSE OF GOLD AFTER THE PERFORMANCE.

THE GREEN EYED BOY SMILED AND GAVE HIM GREAT THANKS.

NERO REPLIED, “WAIT UNTIL I DESERVE THEM.”

THE SENATORS APPLAUDED. IMPERIAL MODESTY!

THE BOY BOWED AND TURNED. A GENTLE BREEZE CAUSED HIS
FEATHERS TO SHUDDER EVER SO SLIGHTLY. HE BEGAN TO CLIMB.

THEN NERO LOOKED DOWN AND CONTEMPLATED HOW THE BLOOD
STAINS WOULD LOOK ON HIS WHITE TOGA AND WHERE EXACTLY HE
SHOULD STAND TO ACHIEVE THE BEST EFFECT, WHILE CONSIDERING
HIS OWN SAFETY. “CAN A LIVING GOD BE CRUSHED TO DEATH BY A
FALLING BOY? PROBABLY NOT”

PETRONIUS HAD SAID THAT WEARING HIS GOLDEN LAUREL WREATH,
THE BLOOD STAINS ON HIS FRESH WHITE TOGA WOULD LOOK TO THE
PUBLIC LIKE ROSE PETALS REACHING FOR THE SUN… AND PETRONIUS
CERTAINLY HAS STYLE.

“NOT TOO NEAR THE SUN! ,” CALLED OUT SMILING THE EMPEROR,”
YOUNG FLYER, MAY THE GODS KEEP YOU SAFE!”

“THEY WILL! , ” THE YOUTH CRIED BACK JAUNTILY, FEARING ONLY
CROSS WINDS AND STILL FAINTLY, IN SPITE OF HIS FATHER’S SCOLDING,
THE GREAT HEIGHTS.

TOMI-15 AD

THE WRETCHED SMELLS OF ROTTING FISH
THE AUTUMN STORMS HAVE BLOWN AWAY BUT NOW NO SHIPS CAN
MAKE IT TO THIS LAST HARBOR.
NO NEWS OF A PARDON FROM THE NEW CAESAR.

WHAT DO THEY KNOW ABOUT ME? WHAT DID DO? WHAT DO THEY THINK
I DID? IWAS JULIA’S FRIEND, I ADMIT, BUT WHEN HAS FRIENDSHIP THAT
CICERO SO HIGHLY PRAISED BECOME A CRIME IN ROME?

I DID WRITE THE BALD AND DIVINE JULIUS HAD BECOME A COMET, A
HAIRY STAR IN OUR HEAVENS,BUT MANY HAVE SAID WORSE.

RIGHT AFTER THE DIVINE JULIUS HAD BEEN MURDERED I WENT WITH
JULIA AND HER MOTHER IN DISGUISE TO A COMIC THEATRE TO SEE
“THE 13TH GOD” IT WAS A HOOT!
THE 12 OLYMPIANS WERE BLISSFULLY SUPPPING ON THEIR AMBROSIA,
WHEN THEY WERE RUDELY INTERRUPTED BY THE NEWLY DIVINE
JULIUS.
“JULIUS WHO?”, ASKED ASKED ATHENA.
THEY HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD OF HIM.
HOW THE OLD LADY ROARED AS JULIUS PROVIDED ALL THE GODS WITH
THE APPROPRIATE GERMAN SLAVE OF VARYING SEXES AND SIZES.
APHRODITE SLAPPED IN THE FACE WHEN HE OFFERED HER A WELL
ENDOWED BEARDED GIANT AND ZEUS SAID HE WOULD STRIKE HIM
BETWEEN HIS SAGGING JULIAN BUTTOCKS WITH A THUNDERBOLT, IF
HE DIDN’T GIVE HIM THE PRETTY BLONDE SLAVE BOY TO BE HIS
CUPBEARER.

DID SOMEONE SEE US THERE? WE ALL SPOKE PERFECT GREEK. THE
MASKS WE WORE WERE MOST LIFELIKE.
LATER THE OLD JULIA WAS BANISHED TO AN EMPTY ISLAND,WHILE THE
F.D. (FILIUS DIVI)WHO MUST FUCKED A LEGION IN HIS DAY SPOKE OF
MORAL STANDARDS AND LIVIA,THE U.F.D. (UXOR FILI DIVI) BLUSHED TO
THINK THAT SUCH THINGS COULD TAKE PLACE IN THE IMPERIAL HOUSE,
THEN SHE STARTED CRY,”THIS WILL BE SO DIFFICULT FOR THE
AUGUSTUS. HIS ONLY DAUGHTER.”

A FEW YEARS LATER WHEN THE F.D. WAS OUT IN THE COUNTRY
VISITING AN OLD ACTOR BOYFRIEND OF HIS, LIVIA SUGGESTED THAT
THE THEME OF THIS YEARS GAMES SHOULD POETRY AND ITS PATRONS,
JULIA AND OVID.

“WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE THEME, METAMORPHOSIS? A TRIBUTE TO
OUR GREATEST LIVING POET. LEAVE IT ALL TO ME . ALL YOU NEED TO
DO IS SIT IN THE IMPERIAL BOX AND LOOK ELEGANT. I AM SURE YOU
CAN DO THAT, DEAR” SHE SAID SMILING LIKE AN EGYPTIAN VIPER.

IT WAS GOING VERY BADLY ON THE RHINE FOR HER HUSBAND AND HIS
LEGIONS. SOME SAID FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE CARTHAGE, WE WERE
LOSING. LIVIA BOUGHT UP EVERY GERMAN SLAVE SHE COULD.

AND SO BEGAN THE METAMORPHOSIS GAMES. ON THE 6TH DAY A
BEAUTIFUL RED HAIRED GERMAN WOMAN WAS LED INTO THE
ARENA.THERE FOLLOWED 7 HANDSOME YOUNG GERMANS.

SOME PLEB SHOUTED THAT EVERY ONE OF THE GERMANS WAS BETTER
LOOKING THAN THAT RUNT TIBERIUS. HE WAS SILENCED.THE
LAUGHTER STOPPED. LIVIA FROWNED.

THE YOUTHS HAD ALL BEEN SHAVED AND OILED. SOME RODE WHITE
HORSES AND OTHERS WRESTLED TOGETHER IN FRONT OF THE RED
HAIRED WOMAN,”THEIR MOTHER”.

THEN IN BACK OF THEM A GREAT ARTIFICIAL MOUNTAIN WAS ROLLED IN .
ITS CLOUDY PEAK PARTED TO REVEAL APOLLO AND ARTEMIS . BOTH
WERE WEARING GOLDEN MASKS THAT RESEMBLED THE F.D. AND THE
U.F.D. IN THEIR YOUNGER DAYS. LIVIA STOOD UP TO SHOW THE MOB
THE LIKENESS. THERE WAS THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE. BOTH THE GODS
CARRIED GOLDEN BOWS.
YOU PROUD GERMAN,YOU HAVE OFFENDED OUR MOTHER! CRIED THE
GOLDEN GODS AND THEN THE WATER ORGANS BEGAN TO PLAY.

APOLLO FIRST SHOT DOWN THE YOUTHS RIDING THEIR HORSES AND
THEN THE BOYS WHO WERE WRESTLING…BOTH WERE SKEWERED WITH
ONE ARROW. HAD LIVIA ACTUALLY READ MY POETRY?

THE CROWD CARED NOTHING FOR POETRY, BUT HAD SEEN BLOOD AND
ROARED APPROVAL.

THEN 7 YOUNG VIRGINS WERE BROUGHT OUT.THE BARBARIANS
LOOKED SO INNOCENT WITHOUT JEWELRY OR EYE MAKEUP. THE GIRLS
PULLED THE BODIES OF THEIR BROTHERS ON TO FUNERAL PYRES.
APPOLLO FIRED BURNING ARROWS INTO EACH PYRE AND THEN
ARTEMIS STRUCK THE GIRLS DOWN.
THE CROWD WENT WILD.

SOME SAY THE BARBARIANS HAVE NO SOULS,BUT AFTER SEEING THAT
GERMAN MOTHER HOLD THOSE DYING GIRLS IN HER ARMS, I AM NO
LONGER SURE. THE SHE STOOD UPTLL AND BEAUTIFUL IN HER OWN
HAIR. NEITHER THE GODS OR ROME COULD BREAK HER SPIRIT.SHE
REFUSED TO WEEP IN FRONT OF ROMANS. SHE WALKED WITH GREAT
DIGNITY TOWARD THE GATE OF DEATH. THE CROWD WAS STILL. SOME
WOMEN WERE CRYING.

THEN I SAW LIVIA REACH UP TO TOUCH HER RIGHT GOLD EARRING AND
QUICKLY LEFT THE ARENA

MAYBE A SLAVE SAW ME NOTICE LIVIA’S ACTION. PERHAPS THAT IS
WHY I AM HERE.

THEN AS ON COMMAND ARTEMIS FIRED A LAST ARROW . SHE HIT THE
GERMAN WOMAN IN THE BACK. THE BARBARIAN FELL INTO A PREPARED
PIT.

THE CROWD GASPED.

SLAVES SWIFTLY ROLLED A STONE OVER THE PIT. EVEN THO THE
STONE WEPT BLOOD, THE CROWD WAS NOT PLEASED.

ALL EYES TURNED SLOWLY ON JULIA, THE PATRON OF THESE
GAMES.THE ROMAN MOB BEGAN TO BOO. JULIA LEFT THE ARENA
CRYING. I LEFT WITH HER.

JULIA NO LONGER HAD THE LOVE OF THE ROMAN PEOPLE.
NOW LIVIA COULD MOVE AGAINST HER LIKE SHE HAD AGAINST HER
MOTHER. THIS WAS THE REAL REASON FOR THE METAMORPHOSIS
GAMES.

THEATRE SOULD ONLY BE PLAYED IN MASKS AND POETRY SHOULD
ONLY MAKE THE HEART BLEED.
I NEVER INTENDED TO WRITE IN HUMAN BLOOD. NEVER! OH GREAT
MOTHER, FORGIVE ME! I WROTE ONLY STORIES.

NOW JULIA HAS BEEN MURDERED ON SOME DESERT ISLAND AND I ROT
ALIVE HERE.

ALL BECAUSE OF A WORD THAT EASILY SCANNED,

BECAUSE OF A NAME,

BECAUSE OF NIOBE.

GEORGE ISHERWOOD, AMSTERDAM SEPTEMBER 2007

DEATH OF A MIME

KNOW BY THEIR BAPTIZED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE TRIPLE GODHEAD,
WHATEVER THAT MAY MEAN

WHEN THEY HELD MAXIMIUS DOWN, HE ASKED THE MONKS, “WHERE
DOES IT SAY IN ALL YOUR HOLY BOOKS THAT RIVER HAS NO SOUL?”
THEN THEY CUT HIS THROAT AND THREW HIM INTO THE CANAL OF
QUEEN BERENIKE.

THE BISHOP HAS CLOSED DOWN HIS THEATER AND SAID MAXIMIUS’
SPECTACLES WERE BEYOND BLASPHEMOUS AND LEWD, ALTHOUGH
THE GIRLS DANCING AS CROCODILES AND IBISES BEHIND HIM ALWAYS
WORE COSTUMES, AT LEAST WHEN I SAW THEM.

GEORGE ISHERWOOD FEBRUARY, 2007

OLD BACH ON THE TOWER

PHILIP EMMANUEL PASSED THE DOORS OF THOMAS CHURCH AND HEARD NO ORGAN PIPING. WAS FATHER NOT WELL? HE RUSHED IN TO FIND HIS FATHER’S WIG HANGING FROM ONE OF THE ORGAN STOPS.

FATHER! FATHER!, HE CALLED

PHILIP NOTICED THE DOOR TO THE CHURCH TOWER OPEN AND CLIMBED FRANTICALLY. AT LAST HE SAW HIS DEAR FATHER, LEANING OUT AND LOOKING HIGH ABOVE LEIPZIG.

FATHER DIDN’T YOU HEAR ME CALLING?

“OH, YOU WERE CALLING FOR ME?” THE OLD MASTER HE SMILED AT HIS SON.” I WAS LOOKING AT THE HEAVENS AND THOUGHT EVERY STAR A NOTE, BUT I CAN’T FIND THE BARS OR KEY SIGNATURES. PERHAPS WHEN I DIE I CAN UNDERSTAND GOD’S CELESTIAL POLYPHONY. PERHAPS I SHALL EVEN BE PART OF IT. I SHOULD QUITE LIKE THAT, BOY.”

TO SEE EDU AGAIN

DEATH CRUISED HIMSO QUICKLY
AND CLOSED HIS FAIR GREEN EYES
AND I SHALL NOT SEE THEM AGAIN
UNTIL MY SOUL SHALL RISE.
TILL JESUS TAKES US BY THE ARM
AND WALKS US TO THE SEA
AND I SHALL LOOK AT EDWARD
AND HE WILL LOOK AT ME
SWEET LOVE, DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW SONIA SIGHED AND SHATTERED
BACKFLIPS FROM A TABLE
AND HOW REICH REALLY MATTERED?
BAHIANAS BEARING FLOWERS?
PAULISTAS DODGING SHOWERS?
HOW WE WERE THERE AT TOLMER’S SQUARE,
WHERE GAILY DANCED THE BEES?
THEN VICIOUS QUEENS WAXED LIVID
AND THEN CAME THE DARK DISEASE
AND I SHALL START TO BLUBBER
SO OVERWEIGHT AND WISE
TO THINK THAT I MAY SEE AGAIN
THE GLEAMING OF GREEN EYES.

HOKUSAI AT 47

How can I with only pen and ink trace the foorprints the rabbits leave on the snow in moonlight?