A Look

FOUNDED IN 1912 BY HARRIET MONROE

VOLUME CVII NUMBER 6

MARCH 1966

THOMAS CLARK

A LOOK

These are the animals we keep to

remind us of meetings

ourselves had once. Like

occasions of a different color

of care but sharing that wonder,

like who might be there? That look.

But now it isn't likely

anyone might be. You

wash and I dry and we

watch the cat look away. There are

pacts and concurrences now we

can keep to

as absently as ever we like.

Divisions of labor, beds, and

birds and cats and dishes, one

into the sink, another

into the towel. You wash and I

dry. It's a ritual

and like all systems, painful

until well used. Speak to me.

Godammit, kitty, speak to

me, us, don't

just roll up in a ball

like that, you know

sometimes you look us in the eyes

it's definitely an incentive.