“Vespers [In your extended absence, you permit me]” by Louise Glück
Vespers [In your extended absence, you permit me] In your extended absence, you permit meuse of earth, anticipatingsome return on investment. I must reportfailure in my assignment, principallyregarding the tomato plants.I think I should not… Continue Reading
“The Secret Garden” by Rita Dove
The Secret Garden I was ill, lying on my bed of old papers,when you came with white rabbits in your arms;and the doves scattered upwards, flying to mothers,and the snails sighed under their baggage of… Continue Reading
“Father Homer” by Mario Vargas Llosa
Father Homer We don’t know if there was one or many.We don’t even know if he existedor if we invented himto give an owner and a legendto the poems that foundedthe world we live in.… Continue Reading
“California Winter” by Karl Shapiro
California Winter It is winter in California, and outsideIs like the interior of a florist shop:A chilled and moisture-laden cropOf pink camellias lines the path; and whatRare roses for a banquet or a bride,So multitudinous… Continue Reading
“While we were fearing it, it came—” by Emily Dickinson
While we were fearing it, it came— While we were fearing it, it came—But came with less of fearBecause that fearing it so longHad almost made it fair— There is a Fitting—a Dismay—A Fitting—a Despair’Tis… Continue Reading
A sentence from “Loon Lake” by E. L. Doctorow
A Sentence from "Loon Lake" The loons they heard were the loons we hear today, cries to distract the dying loons diving into the cold black lake and diving back out again in a whorl… Continue Reading
“Ditty of First Desire” by Federico García Lorca
Ditty of First Desire In the green morningI wanted to be a heart.Heart. And in the ripening eveningI wanted to be a nightingale.Nightingale. Soul,turn the color of oranges.Soul,turn the color of love. In the living… Continue Reading
“If I have to live without you” by Julio Cortázar
If I have to live without you If I have to live without you, let it be bloody and hard,cold soup, broken shoes, or in the midst of richness,let there rise up in me the… Continue Reading
“Do not fall in love with people like me” by Caitlyn Siehl
Do not fall in love with people like me (2014) Do not fall in love with people like me. I will take you to museums, and parks, and monuments, and kiss you in every beautiful… Continue Reading
“Fear / O Medo” by Maria Teresa Horta
Fear Fear builds its fenceof thornsslowly, with murmurssurrounds us But where is the gatethat leads to the pathby which one arrivesat the shadowy forest? There shelterour most intimateour most ferocious animals Our most atrocious fear… Continue Reading