Poems Read online

  withtinyelectriceyes

  turningonandoffandon.

  Theriverbreathesinsalt

  andbreathesitoutagain,

  andallissweetnessthere

  inthedeep,enchantedsilt.

  Whenthemoonburnswhite

  andtherivermakesthatsound

  likeaprimuspumpeduphigh—

  thatfast,highwhispering

  likeahundredpeopleatonce—

  I’llbetherebelow,

  astheturtlerattlehisses

  andthecoralgivesthesign,

  travellingfastasawish,

  withmymagiccloakoffish

  swervingasIswerve,

  followingtheveins,

  theriver’slong,longveins,

  tofindthepureelixirs.

  Godfathersandcousins,

  yourcanoesareovermyhead;

  Ihearyourvoicestalking.

  Youcanpeerdownanddown

  ordredgetheriverbottom

  butnever,nevercatchme.

  Whenthemoonshinesandtheriver

  liesacrosstheearth

  andsucksitlikeachild,

  thenIwillgotowork

  togetyouhealthandmoney.

  TheDolphinsingledmeout;

  Luandinhasecondedit.

  TwelfthMorning;orWhatYouWill

  Likeafirstcoatofwhitewashwhenit’swet,

  thethingraymistletseverythingshowthrough:

  theblackboyBalthazár,afence,ahorse,

  afounderedhouse,

  —cementandraftersstickingfromadune.

  (TheCompanypassesoffthesewhitebutshopworn

  dunesaslawns.)“Shipwreck,”wesay;perhaps

  thisisahousewreck.

  Thesea’soffsomewhere,doingnothing.Listen.

  Anexpelledbreath.Andfaint,faint,faint

  (orareyouhearingthings),thesandpipers’

  heart-brokencries.

  Thefence,three-strand,barbed-wire,allpurerust,

  threedottedlines,comesforwardhopefully

  acrossthelots;thinksbetterofit;turns

  asortofcorner…

  Don’taskthebigwhitehorse, Areyousupposed

  tobeinsidethefenceorout? He’sstill

  asleep.Evenawake,heprobably

  remainsindoubt.

  He’sbiggerthanthehouse.Theforceof

  personality,orisperspectivedozing?

  Apewter-coloredhorse,anancientmixture,

  tin,lead,andsilver,

  hegleamsabit.Butthefour-galloncan

  approachingontheheadofBalthazár

  keepsflashingthattheworld’sapearl, andI

  Iam

  itshighlight! Youcanhearthewaternow,

  inside,slap-slapping.Balthazárissinging.

  “Today’smyAnniversary,”hesings,

  “theDayofKings.”

  CaboFrio

  TheBurglarofBabylon

  OnthefairgreenhillsofRio

  Theregrowsafearfulstain:

  ThepoorwhocometoRio

  Andcan’tgohomeagain.

  Onthehillsamillionpeople,

  Amillionsparrows,nest,

  Likeaconfusedmigration

  That’shadtolightandrest,

  Buildingitsnests,orhouses,

  Outofnothingatall,orair.

  You’dthinkabreathwouldendthem,

  Theyperchsolightlythere.

  Buttheyclingandspreadlikelichen,

  Andthepeoplecomeandcome.

  There’sonehillcalledtheChicken,

  AndonecalledCatacomb;

  There’sthehillofKerosene,

  AndthehilloftheSkeleton,

  ThehillofAstonishment,

  AndthehillofBabylon.

  Micuçú*wasaburglarandkiller,

  Anenemyofsociety.

  Hehadescapedthreetimes

  Fromtheworstpenitentiary.

  Theydon’tknowhowmanyhemurdered

  (Thoughtheysayheneverraped),

  Andhewoundedtwopolicemen

  Thislasttimeheescaped.

  Theysaid,“He’llgotohisauntie,

  Whoraisedhimlikeason.

  Shehasalittledrinkshop

  OnthehillofBabylon.”

  Hedidgostraighttohisauntie,

  Andhedrankafinalbeer.

  Hetoldher,“Thesoldiersarecoming,

  AndI’vegottodisappear.

  “Ninetyyearstheygaveme.

  Whowantstolivethatlong?

  I’llsettleforninetyhours,

  OnthehillofBabylon.

  “Don’ttellanyoneyousawme.

  I’llrunaslongasIcan.

  Youweregoodtome,andIloveyou,

  ButI’madoomedman.”

  Goingout,hemeta mulata

  Carryingwateronherhead.

  “Ifyousayyousawme,daughter,

  You’rejustasgoodasdead.”

  Therearecavesupthere,andhideouts,

  Andanoldfort,fallingdown.

  TheyusedtowatchforFrenchmen

  FromthehillofBabylon.

  Belowhimwastheocean.

  Itreachedfarupthesky,

  Flatasawall,andonit

  Werefreighterspassingby,

  Orclimbingthewall,andclimbing

  Tilleachlookedlikeafly,

  Andthenfelloverandvanished;

  Andheknewhewasgoingtodie.

  Hecouldhearthegoats baa-baa-ing,

  Hecouldhearthebabiescry;

  Flutteringkitesstrainedupward;

  Andheknewhewasgoingtodie.

  Abuzzardflappedsonearhim

  Hecouldseeitsnakedneck.

  Hewavedhisarmsandshouted,

  “Notyet,myson,notyet!”

  AnArmyhelicopter

  Camenosingaroundandin.

  Hecouldseetwomeninsideit,

  Buttheyneverspottedhim.

  Thesoldierswereallover,

  Onallsidesofthehill,

  Andrightagainsttheskyline

  Arowofthem,smallandstill.

  Childrenpeekedoutofwindows,

  Andmeninthedrinkshopswore,

  Andspatalittle cachaça

  Atthelightcracksinthefloor.

  Butthesoldierswerenervous,even

  Withtommygunsinhand,

  Andoneofthem,inapanic,

  Shottheofficerincommand.

  Hehithiminthreeplaces;

  Theothershotswentwild.

  Thesoldierhadhysterics

  Andsobbedlikealittlechild.

  Thedyingmansaid,“Finish

  Thejobwecameherefor.”

  HecommittedhissoultoGod

  AndhissonstotheGovernor.

  Theyranandgotapriest,

  AndhediedinhopeofHeaven

  —AmanfromPernambuco,

  Theyoungestofeleven.

  Theywantedtostopthesearch,

  ButtheArmysaid,“No,goon,”

  Sothesoldiersswarmedagain

  UpthehillofBabylon.

  Richpeopleinapartments

  Watchedthroughbinoculars

  Aslongasthedaylightlasted.

  Andallnight,underthestars,

  Micuçúhidinthegrasses

  Orsatinalittletree,

  Listeningforsounds,andstaring

  Atthelighthouseoutatsea.

  Andthelighthousestaredbackathim,

  Tillfinallyitwasdawn.

  Hewassoakedwithdew,andhungry,

  Onthe
hillofBabylon.

  Theyellowsunwasugly,

  Likearaweggonaplate—

  Slickfromthesea.Hecursedit,

  Forheknewitsealedhisfate.

  Hesawthelongwhitebeaches

  Andpeoplegoingtoswim,

  Withtowelsandbeachumbrellas,

  Butthesoldierswereafterhim.

  Far,farbelow,thepeople

  Werelittlecoloredspots,

  Andtheheadsofthoseinswimming

  Werefloatingcoconuts.

  Heheardthepeanutvendor

  Go peep-peeponhiswhistle,

  Andthemanthatsellsumbrellas

  Swinginghiswatchman’srattle.

  Womenwithmarketbaskets

  Stoodonthecornersandtalked,

  Thenwentontheirwaytomarket,

  Gazingupastheywalked.

  Therichwiththeirbinoculars

  Werebackagain,andmany

  Werestandingontherooftops,

  AmongTVantennae.

  Itwasearly,eightoreight-thirty.

  Hesawasoldierclimb,

  Lookingrightathim.Hefired,

  Andmissedforthelasttime.

  Hecouldhearthesoldierpanting,

  Thoughhenevergotverynear.

  Micuçúdashedforshelter.

  Buthegotit,behindtheear.

  Heheardthebabiescrying

  Far,farawayinhishead,

  Andthemongrelsbarkingandbarking.

  ThenMicuçúwasdead.

  HehadaTaurusrevolver,

  Andjusttheclotheshehadon,

  Withtwocontosinthepockets,

  OnthehillofBabylon.

  Thepoliceandthepopulace

  Heavedasighofrelief,

  Butbehindthecounterhisauntie

  Wipedhereyesingrief.

  “Wehavealwaysbeenrespected.

  Myshopishonestandclean.

  Ilovedhim,butfromababy

  Micuçúwasalwaysmean.

  “Wehavealwaysbeenrespected.

  Hissisterhasajob.

  Bothofusgavehimmoney.

  Whydidhehavetorob?

  “Iraisedhimtobehonest,

  Evenhere,inBabylonslum.”

  Thecustomershadanother,

  Lookingseriousandglum.

  Butoneofthemsaidtoanother,

  Whenhegotoutsidethedoor,

  “Hewasn’tmuchofaburglar,

  Hegotcaughtsixtimes—ormore.”

  Thismorningthelittlesoldiers

  AreonBabylonhillagain;

  Theirgunbarrelsandhelmets

  Shineinagentlerain.

  Micuçúisburiedalready.

  They’reafteranothertwo,

  Buttheysaytheyaren’tasdangerous

  AsthepoorMicuçú.

  OnthefairgreenhillsofRio

  Theregrowsafearfulstain:

  ThepoorwhocometoRio

  Andcan’tgohomeagain.

  There’sthehillofKerosene,

  AndthehilloftheSkeleton,

  ThehillofAstonishment,

  AndthehillofBabylon.

  ELSEWHERE

  Manners

  foraChildof1918

  Mygrandfathersaidtome

  aswesatonthewagonseat,

  “Besuretoremembertoalways

  speaktoeveryoneyoumeet.”

  Wemetastrangeronfoot.

  Mygrandfather’swhiptappedhishat.

  “Goodday,sir.Goodday.Afineday.”

  AndIsaiditandbowedwhereIsat.

  Thenweovertookaboyweknew

  withhisbigpetcrowonhisshoulder.

  “Alwaysoffereveryonearide;

  don’tforgetthatwhenyougetolder,”

  mygrandfathersaid.SoWilly

  climbedupwithus,butthecrow

  gavea“Caw!”andflewoff.Iwasworried.

  Howwouldheknowwheretogo?

  Butheflewalittlewayatatime

  fromfenceposttofencepost,ahead;

  andwhenWillywhistledheanswered.

  “Afinebird,”mygrandfathersaid,

  “andhe’swellbroughtup.See,heanswers

  nicelywhenhe’sspokento.

  Manorbeast,that’sgoodmanners.

  Besurethatyoubothalwaysdo.”

  Whenautomobileswentby,

  thedusthidthepeople’sfaces,

  butweshouted“Goodday!Goodday!

  Fineday!”atthetopofourvoices.

  WhenwecametoHustlerHill,

  hesaidthatthemarewastired,

  soweallgotdownandwalked,

  asourgoodmannersrequired.

  Sestina

  Septemberrainfallsonthehouse.

  Inthefailinglight,theoldgrandmother

  sitsinthekitchenwiththechild

  besidetheLittleMarvelStove,

  readingthejokesfromthealmanac,

  laughingandtalkingtohidehertears.

  Shethinksthatherequinoctialtears

  andtherainthatbeatsontheroofofthehouse

  werebothforetoldbythealmanac,

  butonlyknowntoagrandmother.

  Theironkettlesingsonthestove.

  Shecutssomebreadandsaystothechild,

  It’stimeforteanow; butthechild

  iswatchingtheteakettle’ssmallhardtears

  dancelikemadonthehotblackstove,

  thewaytherainmustdanceonthehouse.

  Tidyingup,theoldgrandmother

  hangsupthecleveralmanac

  onitsstring.Birdlike,thealmanac

  hovershalfopenabovethechild,

  hoversabovetheoldgrandmother

  andherteacupfullofdarkbrowntears.

  Sheshiversandsaysshethinksthehouse

  feelschilly,andputsmorewoodinthestove.

  Itwastobe, saystheMarvelStove.

  IknowwhatIknow, saysthealmanac.

  Withcrayonsthechilddrawsarigidhouse

  andawindingpathway.Thenthechild

  putsinamanwithbuttonsliketears

  andshowsitproudlytothegrandmother.

  Butsecretly,whilethegrandmother

  busiesherselfaboutthestove,

  thelittlemoonsfalldownliketears

  frombetweenthepagesofthealmanac

  intotheflowerbedthechild

  hascarefullyplacedinthefrontofthehouse.

  Timetoplanttears, saysthealmanac.

  Thegrandmothersingstothemarvellousstove

  andthechilddrawsanotherinscrutablehouse.

  FirstDeathinNovaScotia

  Inthecold,coldparlor

  mymotherlaidoutArthur

  beneaththechromographs:

  Edward,PrinceofWales,

  withPrincessAlexandra,

  andKingGeorgewithQueenMary.

  Belowthemonthetable

  stoodastuffedloon

  shotandstuffedbyUncle

  Arthur,Arthur’sfather.

  SinceUncleArthurfired

  abulletintohim,

  hehadn’tsaidaword.

  Hekepthisowncounsel

  onhiswhite,frozenlake,

  themarble-toppedtable.

  Hisbreastwasdeepandwhite,

  coldandcaressable;

  hiseyeswereredglass,

  muchtobedesired.

  “Come,”saidmymother,

  “Comeandsaygood-bye

  toyourlittlecousinArthur.”

  Iwasliftedupandgiven

  onelilyofthevalley

  toputinArthur’shand.


  Arthur’scoffinwas

  alittlefrostedcake,

  andthered-eyedlooneyedit

  fromhiswhite,frozenlake.

  Arthurwasverysmall.

  Hewasallwhite,likeadoll

  thathadn’tbeenpaintedyet.

  JackFrosthadstartedtopainthim

  thewayhealwayspainted

  theMapleLeaf(Forever).

  Hehadjustbegunonhishair,

  afewredstrokes,andthen

  JackFrosthaddroppedthebrush

  andlefthimwhite,forever.

  Thegraciousroyalcouples

  werewarminredandermine;

  theirfeetwerewellwrappedup

  intheladies’erminetrains.

  TheyinvitedArthurtobe

  thesmallestpageatcourt.

  ButhowcouldArthurgo,

  clutchinghistinylily,

  withhiseyesshutupsotight

  andtheroadsdeepinsnow?

  FillingStation

  Oh,butitisdirty!

  —thislittlefillingstation,

  oil-soaked,oil-permeated

  toadisturbing,over-all

  blacktranslucency.

  Becarefulwiththatmatch!

  Fatherwearsadirty,

  oil-soakedmonkeysuit

  thatcutshimunderthearms,

  andseveralquickandsaucy

  andgreasysonsassisthim

  (it’safamilyfillingstation),

  allquitethoroughlydirty.

  Dotheyliveinthestation?

  Ithasacementporch

  behindthepumps,andonit

  asetofcrushedandgrease-

  impregnatedwickerwork;

  onthewickersofa

  adirtydog,quitecomfy.

  Somecomicbooksprovide

  theonlynoteofcolor—

  ofcertaincolor.Theylie

  uponabigdimdoily

  drapingataboret

  (partoftheset),beside

  abighirsutebegonia.

  Whytheextraneousplant?

  Whythetaboret?

  Why,ohwhy,thedoily?

  (Embroideredindaisystitch

  withmarguerites,Ithink,

  andheavywithgraycrochet.)

  Somebodyembroideredthedoily.

  Somebodywaterstheplant,

  oroilsit,maybe.Somebody

  arrangestherowsofcans

  sothattheysoftlysay:

  ESSO—SO—SO—SO

  tohigh-strungautomobiles.

  Somebodylovesusall.

  Sunday,4A.M.

  Anendlessandflooded

  dreamland,lyinglow,

  cross-andwheel-studded

  likeatick-tack-toe.

  Attheright,ancillary,

  “Mary”’scloseandblue.

  WhichMary?AuntMary?

  TallMaryStearnsIknew?

  Theoldkitchenknifebox,

  fullofrustynails,