("contradictions")

When you organize

“contradictory” elements

out of yr work

you are not just getting rid

of them, you also get rid of

the very “contradiction”

of which they were part;

and it is these “contradictions”

in works of art that make them

able to represent to us

our world & our selves,

full of “contradictions"

Because you think of these things

1

Because you think of
arclight sparkling
thro a crack in the darkness

      a moment takes the mind, for a moment


Because you think of
winter spring summer fall
there, outside

      is in here, in you



2

Because you think of
a pair of planets
& ice on the moon in the darkness

      for a moment the mind has its path
      to which you return
      when the wind blows fire from Arcturus


Because you warm yr hands
on the piano
and touch silence

      when you think of these things
      the pulse keeps time
      with the mind




3

Because you think of
these fragile emanations of light
in the darkness,

                           glistening
      gleamings brief and bright
      go pop! sparkle! flash! in yr mind . . .


Because you think of
the bright ambiguous
meaning which is
both yes & no . . .


Because you think of these things

      memory, again
      will have its day
      in the light



4

Here is the mirror
in which you become grandiose


Here is the place where
tears fall from yr eyes


Here is the rose that was
silence that dreamed of becoming a rose



      And all these things
      uprush from the void


      And all
      this is you .

I am old & young

I am

old & young

foolish as much as

wise

a child as well

as a man

At home on the hills

or in the woods

wandering savage

artist

lover

physician priest