[Chimera, sightless stars have colonized the meadow] Poem by Michael Palmer

Chimera, sightless stars have colonized the meadow

Chimera, helicopters are birthing their young into the waves

Language of the waves, Chimera, language
of the owl,
silent petrels by the salt shore,
the plover repeating its note

Saw the singer in flames by the shore

Watched her swallow her song

Nowness in Neverland she sang

Watched the palace disappear beneath the sea

while a later world sailed overhead

Endless amusements of the cruise ship
with no origin or port of call

Saw the singer in that ink-dark dream

Neverness and nowness she sang

beauty of the world broken world

she sang, Chimera,

such words the fire offered her