After Lorca
Let me talk to you plainly
dove-wash and heat wave the city reaching 100
because of the concrete yes
what else besides the minor barrages
stick with us what else but
the painterly something-or-other the still lifes
you left us how you wrote
I will not see it to refuse your friend’s death
I can see how that might work for a while
elegy something animate inside you
and something simple as sight to keep you company
finally too lonely to keep one’s eyes open
as if to keep one’s eyes open were to be lonely
and keeping sight company were something simple
as elegy so animate it works
for a while I can see how
in refusing a friend’s death you would see it
then give it to us in painterly
something-or-other a still life
that sticks with us here inside the minor barrages
the city reaching 100 concrete
dear one before they come for you let me talk plainly
of heat wave and dove-wash 