'It's Not Night When I Do See Your Face' - Traces Metaphysical Poem by Warren Falcon

No earthly power can tear them...
And only light substantiates
Their song. - Mike Finley

for James Tolan
with deep bows
to Louis Zukofsky
Theodore Roethke
John Berryman

[Asterisks denote footnotes]

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1
A dark theme* of late of
fathers (viz. influence/trace)
and grace trans-oceanic and
feet (practicality) to span the
measures of grief getting the
business of it all done the living
that is done well or well enough
lighting another fire shall we
for the dead or

soon
lets us
at the altar
for whom
need/needs
(we/me) now
associate


to bend

knees

hearts

try

wear

(out)

prayer

on a mourn


2
On a mourn of fathers ill or dead
and an early death freshness no
matter young poet sudden now
clod or dust wonder why should
worry me


I should

bothered be

I know but

reading, 'Z'

(is for)


3
'Z' is for Zukofsky reading him before
news of these deaths that of the only
ordinary me next off the descending
escalator in the Cultural Abyss-Mall
who've abandoned ascent I now confess
that dream rather have gathered still
plucking assent only from the air and
what now long consumes a hard staring

at light all shades
one hand extended
other clinched in prayer

his Z's sure
seizure azure
(ex) postulation -

'It's not night when I do see your face'****

without a trace Thin
O Airness do harnass
cloud Loud Sigh Our
High-ness majestic

there unseen
traceabe yet
facets of once
jet stream ever
Via Lactea

seen only

now

by fingers


4
a sky dialectic
lingers only blue
black making a
point missing it

me who sees
while can insisting
you beyond lids
all kinds gestural

(the)

irises're

guttural

stars


pupils'er

muddled

guesses


floaters'er

jokes

not quite

smoke (cuz)

no smoke in all heaven's


Gone, gone,

gone beyond! [Prajna Paramitra Sutra]*****


5
But what with?
comes the question
beyond hand and brow

A smile a
weep only allude to that which each
suggests

That which would gesture
reach if could utter too true and
good

tell the Glory too
the barely but once understood
(enough but

how much is) but felt

Trace No Trace

on Firmament

(infirm am I)

to That Without

Whom Not

I pray do

Substantiate O my Song



Here's breath for You



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