The snake hunts and sinews
his way along and is not his own
idea of viciousness. All he wants
a fast grab, with fur and a rapid
pulse, so he can take that flutter

The world is full of women
who’d tell me I should be ashamed
if they had the chance. Quit danci
Get some self-respect
and a day job.

The red fox crosses the ice
intent on none of my business.
It’s winter and slim pickings.
I stand in the bushy cemetery,
pretending to watch birds,

All those times I was bored
out of my mind. Holding the log
while he sawed it. Holding
the string while he measured, boar
distances between things, or pound

Those whose houses were burned
burned houses. What else ever happ
once you start?
While the roofs plunged
into the root-filled cellars,

She squats, bare feet
splayed out, not
graceful; skirt tucked around ankl
Her face is lined and cracked.
She looks old,

This is the one song everyone
would like to learn: the song
that is irresistible:
the song that forces men
to leap overboard in squadrons

Let others pray for the passenger
the dodo, the whooping crane, the
everyone must specialize
I will confine myself to a meditat
upon the giant tortoises

He would like not to kill. He wou
what he imagines other men have,
instead of this red compulsion. Wh
fail him and die badly? He would l
finger by finger and with great te

He is here, come down to look for
It is the song that calls you back
a song of joy and suffering
equally: a promise:
that things will be different up t