-5-
“What a curious feeling!” said Alice. “
must be shutting up like a telescope.”
The planets are put away
This evening. Venus
Covered with pajamas;
Stars in curlers.
Revolution has
Darkened the universe.
I must be shut up
Like a telescope.
My optic nerves
Are reversed.
Nebulae freeze. Fish
Stiffen their gills,
The sun’s swerve
Crystals on the still
Atlantic curve.
Perhaps this planet
Is insane, the mad
Gathering thoughts
With broken toys,
Sleeping in days
Of simple rotations,
Scuffling here to there,
Crowded exchange
Of names with names.
My lenses range
The ocean for a sign;
Seaweed craters
Bulge with a moon’s
Fanatic threads,
A lobster’s spoon
Lifts the sand & lets
It fall, sifting
To the ocean’s lap
What is give is in
Brief trust, perhaps –
The constellations’ sleep
Andromeda sewing
Mars’ snowy caps
Be at ease, it must
Make sense. Perhaps.
-6-
“Alice’s right Foot, Esq.
Hearthrug
near the Fender
(with Alice’s love)
Oh, dear what nonsense I am talking.”
Right foot, I’m addressing you.
You point outward
When you walk, whether
It’s away or toward
& it is my father’s
Walk you imitate. Right shoe,
Go it alone. I know we choose
Our parents, that
I know. Born to them
We make them over, fit
Them both to the same
Bony world where death’s clues
Grow intricate, under the house,
The hearthrug, near
The fender. Blessed be
he who does not bear
His parents’ weight, sees
In their deaths his own. His
Freedom is dearly bought or is
Freely given, but as
He walks away, note
The pointing of his
Feet. Right foot,
Ligaments & navicular, 5 toes
Cramped into an ontogenetic pose,
Why do you look thus,
Laced up hearse-like
Black, ready to bruise
The furniture, ready to hike
Onto our neighbor’s lawn. 5 toes
Listen from your size 8 shoe
Behave. Walk tall.
Heel, set down straight.
Arch, don’t fall.
Phalanges, point right.
Right Foot, I am talking to you.
-7-
The house of poverty
Gives daily reassurance:
Should you die first, my dear,
I’ll enjoy the insurance.
“How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail
And pour the waters of the Nile
On every golden scale?”
Take risks, take risks,
Tae risks, my darling dear,
For if you live a natural life
We’ll have a pool of tears.
Take risks, take risks,
Don’t merely sprain your back.
Should you die first, my dear,
I’ll drive a Cadillac.
“How doth the little housewife
Improve her shabby wreck?
She takes out insurance
On her husband’s slender neck.”
Take risks, take risks,
Climb buildings when you drink
For should you fall, my darling,
I’ll mourn you in mink.
Don’t walk, my darling’s darling,
Drive, pogo-stick, or fly
For should you have an accident,
I’ll see you in the by-and-by.
“How doth the little housewife
Improve her shabby nest?
She takes out insurance
On her husband’s flabby chest.”
Take risks, take risks,
& don’t inspect the tea
Though one diamond is quite nice,
Ten look best on me.
