In a Dugout
Novice
Becoming Pahn
Ahstrild (invocation)
Flooded Room
Tsovinar (invocation)
Waxing
Rocks and Gravel
Rakhehla (invocation)
Seeking Wayland
Giant Reproductions
Canyon Stones
Home Health Aid
Shelter
The Orange Grove
Twins
Passageway
A Man
In the Dark and Hemlock
Performance
.
In a Dugout
behind
a chain link fence
the teenage Ahgreyeuss walks back and forth
and watches a big horse
running furiously on the grass
black and glistening
it charges over the infield dust toward
him and rears
as if it were a mare
Ahgreyeuss in the dugout womb is afraid of
by the smooth and dark sex
The horse ejaculates
lacing him with heated
black tar that sticks
on his face and clothes…
Novice
.The banks are ragged
and bare
wintered
with gray canes
round
scattered stones
Ahgreyeuss
walks along the muddy creek
thinking
he has been here before
brown water
silty
rain
A structure looms
above the creek
in the vapor distance
wooden
brown
a long roof over a calm
pool
In the water
beneath the structure
there are brown-robed
monks
from the east
in a crew boat
gliding
Ahgreyeuss wades out
to join them
and they reluctantly accept him
but when he tries to enter the boat
he upsets it
nearly to sinking
and he doesn’t think
they will ever let him
and bare
wintered
with gray canes
round
scattered stones
Ahgreyeuss
walks along the muddy creek
thinking
he has been here before
brown water
silty
rain
A structure looms
above the creek
in the vapor distance
wooden
brown
a long roof over a calm
pool
In the water
beneath the structure
there are brown-robed
monks
from the east
in a crew boat
gliding
Ahgreyeuss wades out
to join them
and they reluctantly accept him
but when he tries to enter the boat
he upsets it
nearly to sinking
and he doesn’t think
they will ever let him
try again
Becoming Pahn
.…on the road
with Nomioss
Ahgreyeuss is exploring the dry
and golden buckeye woodland
warm and dusty
They stop at a monument
and climb a loose path of
decomposed granite
stone steps to
a commemorative obelisk
a ruin
looking out over the
hills of fading green
and oak
into a violent distance
Remembering
the past war
they see tanks maneuvering
across a riddled plain
with Nomioss
Ahgreyeuss is exploring the dry
and golden buckeye woodland
warm and dusty
They stop at a monument
and climb a loose path of
decomposed granite
stone steps to
a commemorative obelisk
a ruin
looking out over the
hills of fading green
and oak
into a violent distance
Remembering
the past war
they see tanks maneuvering
across a riddled plain
missiles
explode into the peaty valley floor
and Ahgreyeuss shudders at the prospect
of crossing into that scene
but his brother reassures him
turning him away
saying
“It is not for us”
Ahgreyeuss leaves his brother
walks west down the ridge
alone among stairways
olive and gray stone
He finds and greets
a ranger
guide green
who brings him to the temple columns
and leads him
inside
through a door like a tunnel
And here in the dim church
with shafts of light
illuminating dust
grand pianos are arranged
like pews
closed and soundless
The rangers
wearing black robes
performing rites like a marriage
or sacrifice
intimidating serious
possessing and regulating
access to their realm
they allow the young man to approach the altar
But as he approaches the end
of the aisle
he sees to his left
a way out
and goes to it like water
that finds its way through a constriction
Now he
is in a pale hall
like the back of an old house
used as an office
and there are two doors to consider
Behind the white one
is a universe
of old furniture
utensils
unused pianos
windows
but no way out
and a floor
too cluttered to walk
Behind the pale green door
there is a bedroom
with a woman lying in
black sheets
a nightgown
staring
light
the gentle curves of her body
showing
through the thin
and soft
films of cloth
Ahgreyeuss is looking
for the end of the building
a door
around the white walls
and bedding
and slips into the sheets
with her
Then
explode into the peaty valley floor
and Ahgreyeuss shudders at the prospect
of crossing into that scene
but his brother reassures him
turning him away
saying
“It is not for us”
Ahgreyeuss leaves his brother
walks west down the ridge
alone among stairways
olive and gray stone
He finds and greets
a ranger
guide green
who brings him to the temple columns
and leads him
inside
through a door like a tunnel
And here in the dim church
with shafts of light
illuminating dust
grand pianos are arranged
like pews
closed and soundless
The rangers
wearing black robes
performing rites like a marriage
or sacrifice
intimidating serious
possessing and regulating
access to their realm
they allow the young man to approach the altar
But as he approaches the end
of the aisle
he sees to his left
a way out
and goes to it like water
that finds its way through a constriction
Now he
is in a pale hall
like the back of an old house
used as an office
and there are two doors to consider
Behind the white one
is a universe
of old furniture
utensils
unused pianos
windows
but no way out
and a floor
too cluttered to walk
Behind the pale green door
there is a bedroom
with a woman lying in
black sheets
a nightgown
staring
light
the gentle curves of her body
showing
through the thin
and soft
films of cloth
Ahgreyeuss is looking
for the end of the building
a door
around the white walls
and bedding
and slips into the sheets
with her
Then
as he turns to hold her
the land begins to shake
and the walls to fall away
noisily
allowing the sunlight
to fill the air
the land begins to shake
and the walls to fall away
noisily
allowing the sunlight
to fill the air
revealing
the open landscape again
with no roads
or trails
And into the wilderness
becoming
Pahn
through
stony pastures
the open landscape again
with no roads
or trails
And into the wilderness
becoming
Pahn
through
stony pastures
Ahgreyeuss sets out
.
.
Ahstrild
brown eyes in cream blowing
white
and blue
the ice
of winds through knitted
wool baking bread
small touch
pale eggs
a linen
a bear cushioned embrace
lying low and rolling
forest lakes
the small bodies
in wood and stone
felt
yellow braid
We
climb
on wind feather
threading
sea gull
butterfly
wings
a multitude
of legs
and fingers
in the air
dry
far
threading
sea gull
butterfly
wings
a multitude
of legs
and fingers
in the air
dry
far
cool
Flooded Room
he is floating
in the ocean
under a darkening sky
trying to drink
or see
he swims
in the ocean
under a darkening sky
trying to drink
or see
he swims
into a room full of water
treading voices
listening
to others there
A thin woman
with dark hair
and night-lit face
swims over to him
She is naked
pulling him
meeting his eyes
with open lips
But when he reaches
timidly
in words
or gestures
she pushes away
as if
he is unable
to be with her
and he remembers
even into childhood
that she
has always been
untouchable
treading voices
listening
to others there
A thin woman
with dark hair
and night-lit face
swims over to him
She is naked
pulling him
meeting his eyes
with open lips
But when he reaches
timidly
in words
or gestures
she pushes away
as if
he is unable
to be with her
and he remembers
even into childhood
that she
has always been
untouchable
Tsovinar
Thin skin
burn dropping
temper into drought
thick brows
dark wool the muffle of wavy
hair how blood rises and falls an
inconsistent
convection of heat and rain pelting
heavily
we
caress smoke
lightning
a sky erases
a curtain
twists
long after
crusting
shade
lightning
a sky erases
a curtain
twists
long after
crusting
shade
Waxing
.A letter from Tsovinar
she writes
“Wish you were here more than anything”
Ahgreyeuss
smiles for a while
but says
“I am dreaming
she didn’t write that
Our love has waned”
So he sleeps
and time passes…
…he wanders in a university
a beige building
mostly empty
he is looking
distracted
He opens a door
a room full of people
playing instruments
wearing black
He sits with them
and says
“This is where I belong”
He begins work on a symphony
Leaving the beige building
he finds Tsovinar walking
in the quadrangle
and they lean together
she writes
“Wish you were here more than anything”
Ahgreyeuss
smiles for a while
but says
“I am dreaming
she didn’t write that
Our love has waned”
So he sleeps
and time passes…
…he wanders in a university
a beige building
mostly empty
he is looking
distracted
He opens a door
a room full of people
playing instruments
wearing black
He sits with them
and says
“This is where I belong”
He begins work on a symphony
Leaving the beige building
he finds Tsovinar walking
in the quadrangle
and they lean together
kissing
His hand is in her shirt
Her skin feels waxy—
wax
like the covering
of Gouda cheese
Scraping the wax
His hand is in her shirt
Her skin feels waxy—
wax
like the covering
of Gouda cheese
Scraping the wax
he asks her
“What is it?”
but she doesn’t know
.
.
Rocks and Gravel
with red leaves floating
unmoved
still flat pools
of low water
Ahgreyeuss
sits
rests
black
transparent cold
and she comes by
the trail thicket
looking at him
with only a white shirt
desirous
observing
He is glad deep
But his friends
walking down the trail
they see her too
and say
"Lets go get her"
and Ahgreyeuss panics
responds ineffectually
“No
she looked at me”
And while he arranges
his arguments
she turns and runs
followed by his friends who give chase
and disappear
into vegetation
Ahgreyeuss is contrite
feels he must find her
to distance himself
in her mind from the other men
He goes down through the bushes
crossing back over the trail
worried among rocks
He sees her running
gravel-leafed
scratched
scrambling up the canyon slope
and is compelled to pursue her
forgetting his purpose
crawling up the steep earth
to the ridge
where the woods open
to the bigger land
to the dry scree
where
between stones
she shrinks
Faster downhill
she shrinks
and Ahgreyeuss has become large
chasing a mouse
wondering
why
She multiplies
faster
many mice run
down dry
So dry
he runs
no longer knowing
his
intent
Rakhehla
From the wilderness
by stages rainless stony
striking rocks for water
sanctuary
to be in pain
because of the expanse of
thunder is filled
barren then flowering
deep
wet
touching the soft desert pouch
of contained liquid
standing by the circle of stones
asking for drink
mouth damp
well and stone
lip and dipper
We are
parting dry
into the dusty
sparse
liminal
steps
toward a remote
slaking
Seeking Wayland
.There is a note in Ahgreyeuss Pahn’s pocket
It is Wayland’s address
Ahgreyeuss goes to meet him
Busy
large
cross street
a white convertible skids to a stop
There is a wealthy woman inside
wearing white
“Get in and drive”
she says
angrily
Ahgreyeuss ignores her
He jaywalks
A policeman stops him
The policeman is angry too
he says
“You are an asshole I’m gonna write you up for jay-
walking fella jaywalking that lady wanted you to drive
her car so that her son could be saved but you wouldn’t do it
Now her son is dead
someone is dead because of you”
Ahgreyeuss protests
“I didn’t know
She didn’t say—
how could I know?”
The policeman calms
apologizes
says
its O.K.
Ahgreyeuss walks up streets
shaken
left
right
up a hill
following the notes directions
Where Wayland’s house should be
there is a bar
He keeps walking
He reaches the university grounds
a Japanese garden
many new students
strangers
He speaks to a friend
A woman comes to chat—
he ignores her
She is not Wayland
He leaves
He returns to the bar where Wayland’s house should be
There are telephones
He calls Rakhehla—
no answer
He calls her twice—
no answer
(the telephone is black)
He calls her again—
she doesn’t
know where Wayland is
She says
“I love you”
On another telephone
someone is calling someone
She is a girl in leotards
Ahgreyeuss asks her
if she knows where Wayland is
“Wayland couldn’t come”
She says
It is Wayland’s address
Ahgreyeuss goes to meet him
Busy
large
cross street
a white convertible skids to a stop
There is a wealthy woman inside
wearing white
“Get in and drive”
she says
angrily
Ahgreyeuss ignores her
He jaywalks
A policeman stops him
The policeman is angry too
he says
“You are an asshole I’m gonna write you up for jay-
walking fella jaywalking that lady wanted you to drive
her car so that her son could be saved but you wouldn’t do it
Now her son is dead
someone is dead because of you”
Ahgreyeuss protests
“I didn’t know
She didn’t say—
how could I know?”
The policeman calms
apologizes
says
its O.K.
Ahgreyeuss walks up streets
shaken
left
right
up a hill
following the notes directions
Where Wayland’s house should be
there is a bar
He keeps walking
He reaches the university grounds
a Japanese garden
many new students
strangers
He speaks to a friend
A woman comes to chat—
he ignores her
She is not Wayland
He leaves
He returns to the bar where Wayland’s house should be
There are telephones
He calls Rakhehla—
no answer
He calls her twice—
no answer
(the telephone is black)
He calls her again—
she doesn’t
know where Wayland is
She says
“I love you”
On another telephone
someone is calling someone
She is a girl in leotards
Ahgreyeuss asks her
if she knows where Wayland is
“Wayland couldn’t come”
She says
.
.
Giant Reproductions
.…Ahgreyeuss Pahn’s friends buy false paintings
and talk about a river
Ahgreyeuss leaves them with their art
and walks
and is swept out to sea
overwhelmed
From way out
Ahgreyeuss sees the delta of the river
and swims
holding the saltwater between his arms
crossing the parallel
ridges of delta waves
muddy and insistent
gaining little distance
and talk about a river
Ahgreyeuss leaves them with their art
and walks
and is swept out to sea
overwhelmed
From way out
Ahgreyeuss sees the delta of the river
and swims
holding the saltwater between his arms
crossing the parallel
ridges of delta waves
muddy and insistent
gaining little distance
persisting until Ahgreyeuss catches his foot on a Navy wire
He is pulled in by an officer who brings him to a building
where officers play
grey
and concrete
empty and damp
with bluish light from
high windows
The officer asks Ahgreyeuss to write a letter
of support
and Ahgreyeuss writes calmly
where officers play
grey
and concrete
empty and damp
with bluish light from
high windows
The officer asks Ahgreyeuss to write a letter
of support
and Ahgreyeuss writes calmly
cooperative
black ink
on white lined paper
neat but not pretty
neat but not pretty
a page
The officer thanks him
telling him at the end “Fod is on our side”
The officer thanks him
telling him at the end “Fod is on our side”
Angered Ahgreyeuss
says
"I am not a Fristian”
and seeing the officers frown
Ahgreyeuss leaps into the air
and flies
easily
at great speed
home to his friends
who have laid aside their giant
reproductions
of Cezanne and Degas
and are quietly
playing a game
"I am not a Fristian”
and seeing the officers frown
Ahgreyeuss leaps into the air
and flies
easily
at great speed
home to his friends
who have laid aside their giant
reproductions
of Cezanne and Degas
and are quietly
playing a game
Canyon Stones
…In fallen
leaves
deep under
many browns
dry summer
canopy
still
walking
a trail wide
beside
the
broad
grey stoned
creek
trickling A naked skin
and light young woman beside
a steep place
stands
where the path
cuts into the
side of a hill
He
walks
down
to her
She turns to him
She looks slowly
away
She is wooded and dusty
leaves slide down her
as if she were stone
Joy
rests lightly
in her round touch and waist
She turns and pulls him in
to kiss
But before their lips
join
he hears
the clump and scrape of horses many
and panicked Ahgreyeuss
says
"Naked stone
we must hide from horsemen
hunters
conceal our bodies"
Ahgreyeuss lifts her
runs
lays her down and quiet
in a hollow
of the slope
by the roots
and they watch
the horsemen
stop to camp
She sees now
one group of horsemen
rides by
one group leaves the trail
to camp
The horsemen talk and laugh look about
and there by the creek
the horsemen find them
stony
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