John Sims
FROM MANNERS OF SPEAKING
All the beautifu l books, a ll the clear images
await the ear , the leap into the mind
fu ll o f fresh nerves, no t regul a r from utte ra nce
As ra in begin s to stutte r on the seemin gly ha rd la nd
As marble a nge ls sta nd tor pidl y a t a sepu lchre
to be ru bbed out in th e resurrecti on o f the li ving a nd the dead
As go ld ga rments o f stiff thread measured to the weather
As a crow froze n to the onl y window in the house
As the steps on whi ch eve n the mos t subtl e cl a tter
as they walk u p to the Gove rnor's ma nsion .
As you speak and li ve in the imagin a tion of bei ng heard.
As you a re heard even while driftipg out o f minds.
As la ngu age is the sull en ecology in 'whi ch
~e
suppose
ex ist in g.
,.
As from la ngu age we heard of good a nd ev il
and most sec ret techniqu es of murde r
'
As from la nguage.
Alison Fell
THE MISTRESSES
Welsh winte r: jealous goa ts
butt to be pet ted. Long white
cat on m y shoulde r . G rey dog
with its colonel's eyeb rows
hogging the fire. O ut side, ba nt ams
to keep from the C h ristmas fox,
and rabb its aureoled in the torchli ght.
