Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Goodnight, my next to last love

Adrienne Rich has died. The penultimate love of my poetic life--one of only three who were alive when I was writing. Gwendolyn Brooks died a few years ago. Mary Oliver still lives.


The Observer (by Adrienne Rich)
Completely protected on all sides by volcanoes
a woman, darkhaired, in stained jeans
sleeps in central Africa.
In her dreams, her notebooks, still
private as maiden diaries,
the mountain gorillas move through their life term;
their gentleness survives
observation. Six bands of them
inhabit, with her, the wooded highland.
When I lay me down to sleep
unsheltered by any natural guardians
from the panicky life-cycle of my tribe
I wake in the old cellblock
observing the daily executions,
rehearsing the laws
I cannot subscribe to,
envying the pale gorilla-scented dawn
she wakes into, the stream where she washes her hair,
the camera-flash of her quiet
eye
(The Floating Poem, Unnumbered)
Whatever happens with us,
your body will haunt mine--tender, delicate
your lovemaking, like the half-curled frond
of the fiddlehead fern in forests
just washed by the sun. Your traveled, generous thighs
between which my whole face has come and come--
the innocence and wisdom of the place my tongue has found there--
the live, insatiate dance of your nipples in my mouth--
your touch on me, firm, protective, searching
me out, your strong tongue and slender fingers
reaching where I had been waiting years for you
in my rose-wet cave--whatever happens, this is.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

With Rough Gods--Now Searchable!

Howdy folks!

Those of you who've been waiting to "try before you buy" With Rough Gods can now search inside the book for a preview.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Here's my reading from AWP

For those of you who couldn't be there--you can go here!

Monday, March 5, 2012

3 Poems from With Rough Gods at E-Verse Radio

So if you don't know E-Verse Radio you ought to (and I should update my links page, right?).

I'm not just saying this because they're promoting my book, With Rough Gods, but because the online magazine is a constant delight.

Love them!

Friday, March 2, 2012

With Rough Gods is now for sale

I would like to announce that With Rough Gods is now available for sale.

Enjoy!