Poems

Sestina: Here in Katmandu We have climbed the mountain. There’s nothing more to do. It is terrible to come down To the valley Where, amidst many […]

The Assassination It begins again, the nocturnal pulse. It courses through the cables laid for it. It mounts to the chandeliers and beats there, hotly. We […]

The Evening of the Mind Now comes the evening of the mind. Here are the fireflies twitching in the blood; Here is the shadow moving down […]

The Tourist from Syracuse One of those men who can be a car salesman or a tourist from Syracuse or a hired assassin. — John D. […]

To A Ten-Months’ Child Late arrival, no One would think of blaming you For hesitating so. Who, setting his hand to knock At a door so […]

Villanelle at Sundown Turn your head. Look. The light is turning yellow. The river seems enriched thereby, not to say deepened. Why this is, I’ll never […]

“They Had No Poet . . .” BY Tigris, or the streams of Ind, Ere Colchis rose, or Babylon, Forgotten empires dreamed and sinned, Setting tall […]

A Plan YOUTH is the season of revolt; at twenty-five We curse the reigning politicians, Wondering that any man alive Stands for such damnable conditions. Whatever […]

Unrest A fierce unrest seethes at the core Of all existing things: It was the eager wish to soar That gave the gods their wings. From […]

An Old Song The almond bloom is overpast, the apple blossoms blow. I never loved but one man, and I never told him so. My flowers […]