Writings

An Idea ran about the world screaming with the pain of the mind until it met a child who stopped it with a word. The Idea leaned over those newborn eyes and dreamed of the nature of things: the nature of memory and the nature of love; and forgave itself and all men. Quieted in a sea of sleeping the Idea began its long return-- renewed by the child's sea-colored eyes remembered the flesh, smiled and said: I see birds, spring and the birthplace unknown by the stable stone. I know light and I know motion and I remember I [...]

"My love, my love, my love, why have you left me alone?" James Joyce If I could write : Summer waits your coming, the flowers are colored, but half-alive and weak, earth sickens, as I sicken, with waiting, and the clouds print on the dull moon a dark and blotting streak. If I could write : no energy is kinetic, storm breaks nor foot falls until you arrive, the trees thrive, but no fruit is born to hang heavily : and the stale wind continues to drive all pausing summer before it into the distance from which you, shining, will [...]

Originally published in Breaking Open (1973) In the human cities, never again to despise the backside of the city, the ghetto, or build it again as we build the despised backsides of houses.Look at your own building. You are the city. Among our secrecies, not to despise our Jews (that is, ourselves) or our darkness, our blacks, or in our sexualitywherever it takes us and we now know we are productive too productive, too reproductive for our present invention - never to despise the homosexual who goes building another with touchwith touch(not to despise any touch) each like himself, like [...]

Originally published in The Speed of Darkness (1968) 1 Whoever despises the clitoris despises the penis Whoever despises the penis despises the cunt Whoever despises the cunt despises the life of the child. Resurrection music,silence,and surf. 2 No longer speaking Listening with the whole body And with every drop of blood Overtaken by silence But this same silence is become speech With the speed of darkness. 3 Stilness during war, the lake. The unmoving spruces. Glints over the water. Faces, voices.You are far away. A tree that trembles. I am the tree that trembles and trembles. 4 After the lifting [...]

When you see a woman riding the air Well, you see a woman playing with fire, A woman made of storm and desire And she loves the whole damn zoo. But you can be sure, whatever I do, That I need my beer and bacon too. I wake every night at 4 A.M. And I tell my dreams to the man who is there, Dreams of animals not like him— A woman who rides on fire and air Loves to dream with the whole damn zoo. But I need my beer and bacon too. My dreams ride out from the [...]

Originally published in Beast in View (1944) Trapped, blinded, led; and in the end betrayed Daily by new betrayals as he stays Deep in his labyrinth, shaking and going mad, Betrayed. Betrayed. Raving, the beaten head Heavy with madness, he stands, half-dead and proud. No one again will ever see his pride. No one will find him by walking to him straight But must be led circuitously about, Calling to him and close and, losing the subtle thread, Lose him again; while he waits, brutalized By loneliness. Later, afraid Of his own suffering. At last, savage and made Ravenous, ready [...]