A Poem
by Ned
for Denise Levertov 6/8/94Sitting suspended
once again by accident -Why here?
Why now?
- I pull your book
from my bag of tricks,
sit with you
as you open -
with words like
the compassionate kisses
of tiny crownbars -
my eyes.
Your sadness, anger,
faith and delight
stir the black embers
of print on page
to life:
permit, admire
respect, acknowledge
the flameand remind me to burn
right here - right now
glow or flash,
inferno or smokey smudgeonly combine - disperse -
burn.