Charles Simic Poems

A New Version: 1980

What is that little black thing I see there
in the white?
...

On the road with billowing poplars,
In a country flat and desolate
To the far-off gray horizon, wherein obscurely,
A man and a woman went on foot,
...

As an ant is powerless
Against a raised boot,
And only has an instant
To have a bright idea or two.
...

Here come my night thoughts
On crutches,
Returning from studying the heavens.
What they thought about
...

The night still frightens you.
You know it is interminable
And of vast, unimaginable dimensions.
"That's because His insomnia is permanent,"
...

Enter without knocking, hard-working ant.
I'm just sitting here mulling over
What to do this dark, overcast day?
It was a night of the radio turned down low,
...

The obvious is difficult
To prove. Many prefer
The hidden. I did, too.
I listened to the trees.
...

1

The brightly-painted horse
Had a boy's face,
...

We don't even take time
To come up for air.
We keep our mouths full and busy
...