Bagatelles

1


Out of the mist she made
diaphanous (a swirl
round trunks in Doric
mode) a girl stepped

brightly

white cloth
rent
red palms
turning for that
sorrowing One

star-crossed

a kantele's
hollows sounded
tears pearled
blush

diamonded




2


green or
greenish blue or
aquamarine
not precisely turquoise

( though you sacrifice
the sweeter sound
or, rather,
not; but ) regardless.

to the surf extend
your flattered nail
with flaked paint

kerchief bellied behind
in brine ~ wind
where bicycles collapse
also that same

sickly green of coffee cups
and telephones
{starfish}
California




3


Southwesterly
a wooden bridge
spans
a gulley or wash

I see from below
under the sun small
as a star
night-time horns

swing gold to
silver
trumpets

straight roads
clear signal




4


thickets bristled
glossed nylon
pushed
cotton convex

here
stood beauty pure
unspoiled by
palaver

hip curve belly-
hole
cleft




5


like seeing
(not making)
a mountain move

deep earthly center
the stink of life---
[but that's a botch]

---of living: that mother-
ing essence
liquid & solid.




6


infinite regress, reduction
to You
ineffable

One:
one

least gap between
fingers holds
doubt's bounty
Stretch further,
harder.