Six Poems

Song of the Fourth Magus

On Christmas night in ivory air
I seize the old moon by the hair
And drag her through the virgin snow.

The dark is cold as calvary.
The naked stars against the black
Web of the sky crawl spiderly.

Sleep, child, while you can, by Mary.
Ride ass-back in your dreams, in glory.
Tomorrow will exact another story.

On a Leaf Used as a Book-mark

A leaf, blown back towards the pool
Against the stream's unwavering flow,
Obeys the wind's unspoken wish
To have it so.

So once was I instruction's fool
Upon the surface of delight,
Compelled by contrariety
...