The cocklebur and ergot, horse chestnut, fescue taste not,
neither taste the green false hellebore nor jimsonweed

When spring opens the faucet out pours water, water;
if there were a baby playing in the driveway it would be
carried away, water would carry away every baby like the movie

Stacked the mind with fear: In my room, age eight
I hear him coming up the stairs, penance box

Shit is the taste you want in your mouth,
said love, said love, be a dog,

Here Follows an Account of the Nature of Fish.
Here follows a description of an unknown town.

I followed a ribbon that trailed from a hand
and it led through the grazing of crowds upon pavement,

In this book birds are taught their flying
by that which would make them fall
were they not to fly as had been taught.

For the sightless, shapeless hope is vision,
cast back by the long thrower like a discus,
heavy like a discus, ridged, impacted.

Grief, do me no favors. I have grown my hair long,
as you bid me. I have learned to roll
a coin below my knuckles. I have written down now

I stand by the stove, boiling tea, and trees climb down
through the winter hills to bring me news.