The Dice

e e

So this

is how

you occupy

ivory space

each centered

assuredly

there

the ayes have it

ambs aces

or think

of two figures

in a field

when each has

a square of snow

and each stands on it

like a tin soldier

otherwise

and elsewhere

the sky merges

into the snow

but we

isolate

stand

on our own stand

on our plinth

on the block

top surface

of our own

opaque box

nor could we meet

quite

if our shadows

did

nor even be one

if the earth darkened

e

e

e

It has been proved

on the boulevards

you cannot make plays

without the one

I mean

with only a pair

one imperils

without meaning to

also upholds

take one away

the two break up

without even

a quarrel

call one

duenna

rival

any name

will do

it is

the dot

O of drama

the singular third

a reserve

against silence

e e

e e

How they met

themselves

in a wood

in a pool

ina dream

and how

fearful

they drew back

"Not us!"

their feet

were already

touching

"Not us!"

No

only

in a wood

in a pool

in a dream

otherwise

only ourselves

for all time

only ourselves

e e

e

e e

I misunderstand

your meaning

meaning only

the spell

is cast wrong

or is this

the unluckiest

throw of all?

five, yes

but except

I balance myself out

Iam odd, alone

with a tale

and no hearers

e e

e e

e e

In this figure

the dance

truly begins

or say

the ways divide

one you claim

is ardent

and active

but the division

between the blocks

is arbitrary

one way

a weaving

through fire

as if thought

could not also be

fire

up then

on the ivory stairs

"Click click"

the tailor

says to himself

in his dreams

a leap

each time

your coat tails

coming on after you

like shears

yet your legs

stay neutral

e ee

e

e ee

They said lucky

who only stayed

not counted out

not huffed

or puffed

but the house

held

or aslant

stood

one elbow

on the wind

they said survived

who were only

still in

secure

secure

on the slippery

ivory

on the ice

by an inch

on the sea

by a plank

on the ledge

by a finger

in the game

by sevens

ee ee

ee ee

"T have moved

the earth"

says the warlord

"to build walls"

"there will be no

breaking of bones

within my armor"

the snow stretches

North and South

East and West

beautiful is the power

of the powerful

it has the whole world

in its spell

"Click" say the ivory teeth

"Click" says the trap in the snow

"Click" says the key in the lock

ee e e

e

ee e e

In the moonlight

I mistook the menhirs

for maidens

nine

or I thought

the meeting

fortuitous

or I thought

the cast fortunate

and when they moved

in dance

or seemed to move

coming or seeming to grow

towards me

white figures

with the shadow

behind each

I remained

there

where I was

drawing a line

as you had taught me

with the stick

you had given me

whether they stopped

first

or I fell asleep

first

I do not know

only I awoke

to find myself

covered with rime

and this child also

alive

and in my arms

e e ee

e e

ee ee

This is the very pattern

of the dance

of groves

of constellations

who shall stand

at the center of the one

stands also

at the center

of the other

and must be whirled

twice

into an ecstasy

of all the senses

twice I say

not by proxy

and at the same time

for there is no mirror

no water or polished bronze

to make two sets

of the one dance

indivisible and

double center

either of swords

or wands

of arms

at last

of arms

... ee

e

... ee

This cast

is the diminishing

of the dance

fortunate division

seemingly so

the only one

as if the kings

static

in solemn ranks

watching the queens

were hopeful each

not one

owning himself

unpaired

or

as if a soldier

standing among the hosts

before a battle

seeing them wheel in line

as thick as snowflakes

should think

out of such numbers

how will I be noticed?

then let

the odd one out

after ordeal

or casting of the lots

be chosen

to lie in ivory vaults

or say these others

indifferent

cold

be black dots

in the snow

so I lie by her side

enfolded within limbs

not ivory only

so I live lucky in my bones

never so sure alone

... ...

eco eco

Last of the casts

unlucky

too high

too heavy

no echo

of the dance

but hobnails

six in each heel

to print

the morning crust

"Clank clank" says iron

chained men

along the lane

freight cars in drifts

birds freezing

on the wires

the kings again

too sovereign weighed

to scamper into exile

all things immobile

locked in element

might massive masculine

ranked great in space

luckless abiding wrecks

left where they loom

passed with averted eye