TableofContents

1‐4…................................................................ekphrasticpoems

5…................................................................narrativepoem

6…................................................................extendedmetaphorpoem

7…................................................................concretepoem

8…................................................................scarpoem

Hazy…Beautiful

AthousandcrystalsFloatingasifsuspendonwire.Atouchoflight,GentlebutimportantColumnsbuiltwhen?Afoundationmadebywhat?Stained‐glasswindowsdepictingwho?Afailingmemoryerodesthewindowsills,Andthetowersleanundertheweightoftime,Anddistancehasdirtiedthestonefloors.Andyetstillitstands,Tallandbeautiful,Andproud.

ReminiscenceofaCathedral

FrantisekKupka

NationFactory

IthinkwhatI’mtryingtosayisThisiswhoweare.Thisiswhatwedo.Thisiswherewe’reheaded.Aworldoftractorbeam,Lightbeam,Redlight,Yellowlight,Greenlightscenes.Acompilation,Amedley,ifyouwill,Ofallthesongsaboutthis.ThisbeingStop.Go.CommercialAscension.Realization.Frustration.Incorrect.Correct.Incorrect.Correctinterpretation.Hardhatwearing,Briefcasebearing,Dulldrum,melancholydays.ExcitingDays.Dayswhereweforgenewpaths.Dayswherewecountceilingtiles.Dayswherecountceiling.…AndtheHomeoftheBraveDayswherewecount. CharlesDemuthDayswherewe…Dayswhereweforgenewpaths,Wherewechurnoutanation,Beautifulandnew.Andtherewillbegreatlight!Alwayslight!

Fisherman’sCottageIfeltsafe.Itwaslikeawomb,Darkandinviting.Iwantedtoenterit,Tohaveitswallowmeup,Toliveit,Tobeit.Itcuedsomememory,SomeintangibleAbstraction.Notevenamemory,MaybejustafeelingFromlongago.

Fisherman’sCottage HaraldSohlberg

WhatStartedAsADayBecameWhatSeemsLikeALifetime

Iamlikewood,Onlysoresistant.Thisrainswellsme.Itbloatsme.Makesmesoftandpliable.Iwantto…IwanttooMuchTotearawaytheconstantshinethewaterhasbroughttotheroad.TosliceofthewaterWithaknifeInfinitelysharp.AndItrytoreplenishmymind,Butnoamountoftheblackdrinkcansharpenmyedgesenough.AndagainIwishtoskintheearth’ssurface,LikepeelinganappleOrde‐scalingAdeadtrout.Ifeelmyselfsinkingunderthisdreadedair.Heavyandawfulandmurderousandcynical.Iwanttodry.Tobreathefree.Toridmyselfofthisfunguslung.Iwantagaintobelimberandstrong.ButAllICan ParisStreet;RainyDayDo GustavCaillebotteIsWait.

Thenightaftermygrandmother’sfuneral

MyfamilyandIDrovetoadivebar,FillingmybrothersJaguar.Myfathergavedirections,Eyesasredasfreshblood,Smellingpungent.“Doyouseethathardwarestoresign?”heasks.Mybrotheranswers“no.”Againheasks,Gigglingnow.MysisterandIExchangesecretlooksAcrossmymother’slap.Afunny,uncomfortablesilenceFillsthecar.ThevehicleisfuelednowNotbygasoline,ButbythecollectivewillOfafewofit’soccupants.

“Youare” Abrokenmusicbox.Yoursoundscomeoutallmixedup,Asifyoutrytoplaythemallatonce.Raiseyourpitch,Rightyournote,Mywarblytune.YouhaveacrankTocontrolyourspeed.Youturnfastalways.YoupronounceloudlyYoursong.BrightandcuttingandchimingisYourtone.Oftenoutofcontext‐Tooloud.Yourwoodshell‐BrownandgoldSitsinasmokefilledapartment,Collectsash,Collectsscent. ByDanielQuinn

IwasapraIrie

Igrewtaaaallllllllllllllllllllllllllll

AndIgrewfastIstretched to the sun

mya r m sIwrappearounddmyselftheearth.ThepIoneerscameAndCutPathsThroughMe.Theyn down

brdme

ue

Leaves scatter,earthslides, mybodyflies. Airborne…Aroll,Aflip.Onmyfeetnow.Bloodonmyhand, Agrinonmyface.“Watch your step.”