LETTER TO SITO IN TIME OF WAR
D-PRESS
SEBASTOPOL 1998
Cover collage by Luis Garcia
LETTER TO SITO IN TIME OF WAR
we find
ourselves
in a new
world
speaking
an old
language
we speak
of beauty
and feelings
while the
machines
blast
the birds
from our
hearts
watch
the words
hear
the howl
come
to the ear
eye
nose
lip
scream
at the
dichotomy
of the
comma—
a dream
an illusion
how time
passes
dinosaurs
dance off
the map
where you
and I sit
drinking
coffee
we hold
down
this loose
end
of the
universe
feeling
at home
in the smoke
.
it begins
like this
and ends
like this
and continues
.
in the
beginning
it was
done on
a blank
page—
white
on
white
on the
day of
creation
.
hear
here
is a bird
in the
window
is a bee
a flower
a garden
in the
mind
.
dilute the
potion
pour in
water
with the
hemlock
open the
windows
look for
patterns
in this
dream
.
a new
dimension?
shaped
words,
canvases
of space
song
bird
word
word
heard
third
.
we are
running
we are
mad
the stars
point out
the way
we are
naked
we are
free
there are
flowers on
the path
.
I was
told
I was
shown
it was
pointed out—
the narrow path
the word's wisdom
.
so
intricate
so
complex
so amazing
the dead
leaves
on the
sidewalk
the dog
barking
the man
scratching
.
what's out
side is
within
is there
emptiness
without
awareness?
.
word
wise
will
word
weed
worm
word
were
wood
word
weld
wink
word
wild
wing
word
wall
war
.
construct
something
out of
clay
dirt
obscene
words
in the
wash
room
stall
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no time
not place
no mind
for it—
it is
a dark
sentence,
a joke on
the wall
.
island
city
one can
loose
oneself
in any
pattern
any tree
star
cloud
mountain
field
.
a problem today
is to put down
the black-white
marble of mind
draw a circle
take your shot
feed daffodils
to crocodiles
there
is a
cemetery
in the
heart
tombstoned
we look
for it
the door
that
opens
onto
gardens
and
graveyards
there
are stars
in the
branches
of the
tree
all the
windows
of the
moon
open and
close
the count
and how
to count
the count
.
how is it
sir?
how
is it?
it is
how
it is
is
how
it
is
down
that
road
soften
it up
how
it
sir
Spring
do not
mistake
me for
a flower
or a tree
Death
knows
there's
music
in the
air
SONG
the president of the univers-
ity Ph.D LL.D
acting in good faith
opened the key to symbols
and saw
the new requirements
applicable to persons
not embarked
are shown in circles
Do Not Fold, Bend
Stipple or Mutilate
Beware of kindergartens
early elements
exceptional
specialized
adults
credentials
supervision
TEXTBOOKS
MAPS
IRS REGULATIONS
under the current regulations
peace and gladness
cannot be deducted
PATTERNS
look at the numbers
Kant 478a-79d
there is beauty in moral order
and Bacon who should
be in Everyman's Library
knew Augustine confessed
I have a friend who says
there are 3 principles
the good, the bad
and that whichisneither
good nor bad
as for the whichisneither
my friend told me to stop
smoking, which changed my life
because I do smoke 2 to 3 packs
I write this sitting
on a Persian rug
listening to a harpsichord
on a Victrola play
Partia #2 in C Minor
Schmieder 826
478 79 3 2 2 2 826
in the bottom of the 9th
TALE
an ancient tale
of a river
that fell in love
with a maiden
my soul stretches as a river
and your image is reflected
deeply, quietly
blue eyes and bright face
kind, calm
a fresh flower on a spring day
when the image is lost
my soul
floods with despair
A BOOK ENTITLED
when you die we will plant you
beneath the magic mushrooms
they will grow lush and perfect
on a night with a full moon
you will hear them cry out
to be gathered
eebee
eebee
ooooo
eebee
eebee
ooooo
Listen!
Prepare the Jell-O!
Light the sofa!
VISION
my vision of a fish
brown with a yellow streak
and an amorphous red eye
encircled by a river
has fused with the dead cat
in the gutter I sent
to heaven with flower-stars
SPACED
Time stopped—
and like the drool
on the lip of an idiot
I hung over the abyss
looking inward
amazed
YES
o yes
read first
by all means—
now, a
string of DNA
floats
having
come unstrung
from its coil
o yes
I keep a
loose vowel
MY POEMS
Who said it
wasn't just
sound, Gail?
You just
happened
to come
On a night
when I've
lost all
Of my poems.
A TEST
don't leave
it's more clear
goodnight
goodnight
tomorrow
tomorrow
a test
a visa
to Mexico
to Africa
golden leaves
in earthenware
in the sun
ELIZABETH SAYS
I get that feeling
you get in your nose
when you eat ice cream
in my eyes when I hear
the sound of the needle
at the end of the record
like a mouse eating crackers
DEAR MOM
a god
just
passed
a win-
dow
The
Lion's
Mouth
"That's hard,"
Lu said.
I quickly
jumped.
A BRAMAVITS SITS ON THE HEAD
OF A NEO-CLASSICIST
for Wolfman & the Big X
3 out of 4 hippies aren't
badminton
mushrooms
mungbeans
moonbeams
sitting in Kip's
with a book and a burger
my valves are loose
and my chains clank
ODE TO GRAHAM CRACKERS
GRAY
HAM
AND
peanut butter
sliced pickles
and
peanut brittle
take another toke
cherry pie
on rye
27½ BEFORE 3
close to a
symbol stupor
do not listen
unless you know
what you are doing
we must be careful
when filling special
dietary needs
beware of toxic chemicals
beware of toxic poetry
TAXMAN
clanking chains
electronic brains
a harpsichord?
no, a cowbell
there are two angels
one records and the other
dictates
listen to the hum
take a cosmic breath
relax, man, Hell is hung
with pretty pictures
listen to the sitar
Indian hard-bop twisted
on the frame of a fugue
sit and listen
as it tears your soul from you
LINE DRIVE
ami
ma moo
ami
ma moo
that's a train
we go on that train
yes, we go on that
train
power steering batting average
power steering batting average
stop.
I cannot ignore
certainly not dismiss
Anulios
AGUSTUS TURNS IN HIS TOMB
bottom of the 13th
Willie faces the left-hander
2 for 5
homerun for the 9th
Overcast has blown away
in the next room
a sewing machine whrrrs
draining the power
Static
fast ball hit into right
for a base
The mood shifts
LeFever is up
Why is the spectacular held
in San Francisco
when the riots are in L.A.?
OUT OF THE PARK
apparently
I did not understand
when He spoke of the grain
which is the symbol of man
looking to the burial of the seed
its death and resurrection
I want mustard on my hotdog
