blackbirdonline journalFall 2009  Vol. 8  No. 2
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GERALD STERN

I

                              XV
                                                                             And while he ate a bird he moved
                              one dish to the left, one spoon to the right, for he was
                              also compulsive and counted steps for starters
                              and with his mind and its fingers he moved the shakers to
                              each side of the dish for they were now cherubim
                              and underneath the chicken was the mercy-seat
King James            which James in its wisdom calls the Ark’s cover
                              and it was made of gold which I.’s dish wasn’t
                              and there was a length and a width described, for G.
                              he also was compulsive as well as pure.
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