Variations

PORTRY

VARIATIONS

There is love only

as love is. These

senses recreate

their definition-a hand

holds within itself

all reason. The eyes

have seen such

beauty they close.

But continue. So the voice

again, these senses recreate

their singular condition

felt, and felt again.

I hear. I hear

the mind close, the voice

go on beyond it,

the hands open.

Hard, they hold so

closely themselves, only,

empty grasping of

such sensation.

Hear, there where

the echoes are

louder, clearer,

senses of sound

opening and closing,

no longer love's

ROBERT CREELEY

only, mind's intention,

eyes' sight, hands holding-

broken to echoes, these

Senses recreate

their definition. I hear

the mind close.

THE CHANCE

For whatever, it could

be done, simply

remove it, cut the

offending member. Once

in a photograph by

Frederick Sommer a leg

lay on what was apparently

black velvet cut

from its attachment

to the rest, the foot

showing the incised

wound whereof

the beauty

of all

reasons.