Confused sentences sweep across
the windshield. Then nothing but white
commas exploding out of the night’s

The gift of clams is here, waiting
in the large bowl on the cutting table.
We are waiting: the clams

things are easily forgotten.
yesterday, i was surprised to find 
an ash burning its way 

Today’s lesson: a black river
which began in the northeast corner
of Utah struggled downward

You think of moving the captured submarine 
to a permanent berth alongside the museum
in your city. A retired engineer who spent

Drawing paper down from the cupboard           sky
goes in at the top             scribble scrabble
green line grass for the bottom             filling

A woman came down the hill from her farm
with her two little children
to have her neighbor cut

Human mothers are right to take such exceptional care of their babies; after all, even from birth, there is no animal which is quite like man. Yes, even as a child, Man differs from the babies of other species. 

How exactly does one soothe the savage breast? Surely not only with music—and if, indeed, with music, with what kind of music, then? Gypsy lullabies, whale song, Gregorian chants, two-part inventions?

Two girls like angels enthroned beside urns blessed us with coffee. They had made a little sign with the prices neatly lettered. Everything was clear—they had made all the decisions.