the mockers stand on every hill
and let their silver arrows fly
and everything they say and do
...
I dreamed of a landscape in prussian blue and gold.
was it the castle at the top of the world
I wondered;
...
[on the paintings of Grant Wood,
and on David Lynch's lovely film The Staight Story
and on Iowa, itself, forever]
...
perhaps it is just a thing
wishing to be made
and then, precipitate
...
you had it locked up
the penny locket that cried
in a silver box
...
[after Pavlova]
swan on the similar waters
I have seen you shine
...
the order in which it occurred to me;
not History.
since this is a personal essay and
...
[a prayer at the present time]
once I waited till dawn
for one white word from You.
...
[to Ray Bradbury (again) ]
somewhere kneeling on a dandelion shore
like old explorers coming home
...
we will paste stars on the ceilings
and call this Heaven or
stare pointedly at the children
...