Dumb Ass

Dumb Ass

A poem should be palpable and mute
As globed fruit,

Dumb Ass
As old medallions to the thumb,

Silent as the sleeve-worn stone
Of casement ledges where the moss has grown-

A poem should be wordless
As the flight of birds,

A poem should be motionless in time
As the moon climbs,

Leaving, as the moon releases
Twig by twig the night entangled trees

Leaving, as the moon behind the winter leaves,
Memory by memory the mind-

A poem should be motionless in time
As the moon climbs

A poem should be equal to :
Not true

Fore all ther history of grief
An empty doorway of grief

An empty doorway and a maple leaf
For love

The leaning grasses and two lights abover the sea-
A poem should not mean but be...