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Her brown falcon perches above the sink
as steaming water forks over my hands.
Below the wrists they shrivel and turn pink.
I am in exile in my own land.
Her half-grown cats scuffle across the floor
trailing a slime of blood from where they fed.
I lock the door. They claw under the door.
I am an exile in my own bed.
Her spotted mongrel, bristling with red mange,
sleeps on the threshold of the Third Street bar
where I drink brandy as the couples change.
I am in exile where my neighbors are.
On the pavement, cans of ashes burn.
Her green lizard scuttles from the light
around torn cardboard charred to glowing fern.
I am in exile in my own sight.
Her blond child sits on the stoop when I come
back at night. Cold hands, blue lids; we both
need sleep. She tells me she is going to die.
I am in exile in my own youth.
Lady of distances, this fire, this water,
this earth makes sanctuary where I stand.
Call of your animals and your blond daughter,
I am in exile in my own hands.
Marilyn Hacker
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Read poems about / on: pink, daughter, water, change, child, green, red, sleep, fire, light, night, animal, cat, children
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Comments about this poem (Exiles
by
Marilyn Hacker
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Marilyn Hacker
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Michael Morris
(2/10/2006 8:29:00 AM) |
Marilyn, why does this poem seem like one Hopper would have written if he couldn't paint?
Brilliant!
Many thanks.
Mike
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