Poet's Corner: Song by Louise Glück

Song by Louise Glück

Leo Cruz makes the most beautiful white bowls;
I think I must get some to you
but how is the question
in these times

He is teaching me
the names of the desert grasses;
I have a book
since to see the grasses is impossible

Leo thinks the things man makes
are more beautiful
than what exists in nature

and I say no.
And Leo says
wait and see.

We make plans
to walk the trails together.
When, I ask him,
when? Never again:
that is what we do not say.

He is teaching me
to live in imagination:

a cold wind
blows as I cross the desert;
I can see his house in the distance;
smoke is coming from the chimney

That is the kiln, I think;
only Leo makes porcelain in the desert

Ah, he says, you are dreaming again

And I say then I’m glad I dream
the fire is still alive

My poem: apricity

apricity by okapi

Crunching snow under cracked-sole boots,
I go. Pink sleeping child and silver birthday
balloons cross my path. Cold air

burns the good burn. Desiccated browns
slice through the flat white and dull grey
like split ends turned upwards for inspection

or pruning. Ribbons of tracks overlap
and intersect in imprecise and
improbable journeys. ‘But the woodducks

have nowhere to go!’ The puppy in red cable wool
is also amused. Or confused.
Fat geese parade, bumptiously unstuck.

The frozen lake is beautiful in winter.
Plump feather balls alternately pose
and shun the camera’s eye.

But I am thinking of tiny pink coats and
shiny balloons and how, were I homeless,
I could live in that unnaturally warm restroom.

( Photos of the lake which inspired the poem )