Brilliant - Mortal -

Opposite.

In the Dark Morning

Not here to See

Open - Acorns -

Above the Wet Street -

Ivory-Golden

Cups pouring Out.

Gone Home -

Generous Breast.

Amherst Ballad 6

The air - was Close - the Pane - slid High -

The Sill Imbued with Dust - Gave Up

A Maple Wing - of Brussels Lace -

A Tachinid or a Horse - Fly -

A small - Half Shell - of Tree Nut Style -

Crissed with Gold - Vermicule Paths

Inside - and a Common Bottle Green Fly -

Perhaps Descended from the One who Buzzed when you Died.

My Feet will Enter - your Room - Soon -

My Body - Looming - Over Them.

I thought, at 15, that you would not like me,

Too tall too fat too dumb too ugly -

But now I have a Troupe - Motel

Wing - and Shell - Motel Flies

To whom I feel equal in the Old God’s Eyes.

My Mother - Never - stayed in a Motel -

So I revel in - each Motor Hotel

As if I have a right to be Here.

Your singing called me here - it should have been

Evie, or Louise, or Bren, here -

But it is I, your humble Liege -

Hunter, Diana, Siren, Heretic -

Sister to Barbaric Yawp,

Descendant Girl - of Awkward Yawl -

Down to Earth, down to Sea.

If they couldn’t Catch you

Maybe they can’t

Catch me!

Amherst Ballad 7

Outside your Room - in the Wain’s Coat -

Below an Outlet - in the Hall -

Rolled Pill - Armadillo

Gray - Sowbug Eden Shell.

Emerald Head Spiked with Hair

Arrows - Buzzless Fly -

Barbed Leg cocked - a Quiver

Of Harrow Bristle Thigh.

On your Desk - Oak Penshaft -

Necklaced with Pearl - Steel Nib -

Well of Crystal - Murex Ink -

Collar chased - Hachures of Sheaf.

Lines of Lumen - curve and Ascend

Your Hurricane - Lamp Throat -

Ring its Glass Mouth - and Light -

Your Counterpane Quilt.

Supine then - on Jute Matting -

I inched my Way - Under your Bed -

Sleigh of Cherry Burl. As a Child -

I would Wake - under - in in’s stead.

Now Lanyard on my Wrist - from my Girl -

And Porcupine Quill and Coconut Shell

And Bead Bracelet - from Didi and Major -

And the Jane Austen Pendant - from lucille.

Rose Quartz - in Sterling - Ring -

From my Elder - Sister - Patricia -

Aquamarine - in White Gold -

From our Mother’s elder Sister - Patricia.

Raiment Guard me - between Flocked

Walls near Small - White - Dress.

Chair to Match - the one I was Trussed to -

Gilt Grain - Cross-Piece of Hitchcock.

When my Mom Tied me - she fed me - by Spoon -

Alphabet Soup.

I Love being - Here alone -

For Everyone.