bend of bay » moments

Gordon Lish (Winter 1989)

apc — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:11:44 +0000

He yelled about the period.
He wanted it.
I did not.
He won.

Proof

In Memorium

apc — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:08:45 +0000

He had
a rocker
and a
radio

for Wallace Stevens

apc — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:26:05 +0000

(after reading an essay on Wallace Stevens)

dying and being
red and purple
western sky

Cattle

apc — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:34:44 +0000

The Angus and the Highland
both fall under the general
definition of cattle.
Cattle are bovine farm animals
domesticated and raised for
milk, beef or other purposes
such as sport or work.
The male is first a bull calf.
It becomes a bull.
If castrated, a steer.
A steer becomes an Ox.
The female is first a heifer calf.
It becomes a heifer, then cow
These, then, are cattle.

For Cotton Mather

apc — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:22:35 +0000

We who are old are marvelously blessed by the use of glasses. Inexcusable the ingratitude of mankind to bury in oblivion the name of that benefactor, the inventor, the original fashioner of glasses, when there stand on record innumerable murderers oppressors and thieves under the name of conquerers.

for E. E. Cummings

apc — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:10:54 +0000

Jack Sprat could eat no fat
Neither could Leonardo

And what I want to know is,
What do think of that, Mr Sprat

What We Did

apc — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 15:09:38 +0000

Shot him on the balcony
Hung him on a cross

Argued the merits of execution

It hurts
It does not hurt
It is painful
It is not painful

Sidewalk

apc — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:50:15 +0000

Cracks intentionally placed,
spaced at regular intervals,
protects pavement from changing
weather conditions.
Hot to cold to hot to cold and so on and so forth.
Grass and weeds fill the cracks.
Removing them improves sidewalk appearance.

Foundations Of Western Culture VII (ACB)

apc — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:14:32 +0000

Aristotle was the first biologist in the scientific sense. That is he is the first biologist in the scientific sense for whom we have a record. Therefore it is possible there were prior biologists in the scientific sense. He was the first to complete a record of specific observations concerning living matter’s structure and behavior. He was the first to compile this record within a system and apply theory to this record.

Chiropractic is a system of therapy manipulating the spine. The spine houses a critical portion of the nervous system. It is the Interstate Highway carrying neural traffic efficiently back and forth. The chiropractor makes sure the bridges stay put, the potholes repaired, working with the cause of your health problem instead of its outward effects, removing the subluxation in your spine and allowing the innate healing power of your body to cure naturally, regaining the normal healthy condition nature intended you to have.

Biology is the science of living matter in all its forms. Biology is the science of living matter in all its phenomena. Biology is the phenomena of an organism. Biology is the phenomena of a group of organisms. Biologists are scientists. Chiropractors are civil engineers. They ensure your bridges stay put and potholes repaired, working with the cause of your health problem instead of its outward effects, allowing the innate healing power of your body to cure naturally, regaining the normal healthy condition nature intended you to have.

What then

apc — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:45:46 +0000

The solution is simple.

Add allusions to the Greeks.

Have dawn spread out her fingertips of rose.”

The tower collapsed in the middle of the night.

The ambulatory window waits to fall.

You left nothing for the Greeks,

no fingertips of rose,

no dawn.

The solution is simple.

Add allusions to the Greeks.

Have dawn spread out her fingertips of rose.

The tower collapsed in the middle of the night.

The ambulatory window waits to fall.

We left nothing for the Greeks,

no fingertips of rose,

no dawn.

Tear

apc — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:49:20 +0000

The table rocks.
Cardboard cup.
Coffee.

Don’t climb stairs.
Stay in the kitchen,
twist the water on.

Twins

apc — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:50:31 +0000

On Wednesday afternoons my mother drove
into the city with this friend to catch a matinee.
She had ten kids in nine years, this friend.
She talked about the theater incessantly,
and sang its praises ad nauseam.
But she usually missed her exit and was late for their rendezvous
and they found themselves stuck in Tunnel traffic
and couldn’t decide where to park and as a result missed the show.
She moved to Mississippi, this friend.
She writes sometimes to say there is no theater,
but George (that’s her husband) is doing just fine.
Sometimes my mother calls to ask if I would like to see a show.
She is always late, then talks incessantly,
commenting on the decor and costumes, insisting she
knows that actor from somewhere but where
exactly she can’t recall and insists
I surely remember. Then we go to lunch.
She sends back the entree (once) or the silverware (twice).
She says I’d prefer her in Mississippi.

Arbella

apc — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:55:53 +0000

in the course of human events
human events go by
a beacon a city a hill
people order and form
a more perfect union a beacon
in the course of our forefathers
forth on this continent a new
nation under a proposition that we
form a more perfect union dimly
seen through the mists of the deep
the foe’s haughty host dread
silence reposes in the course of
human events it is altogether
fitting and proper that we do this
and form forth a foe’s haughty
have no fear to establish
a beacon a city a hill a dream
fitting rising living
the true meaning of the creed

Red Train

apc — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:52:32 +0000

Stay beneath this bridge
and listen to trains pass overhead.

Water trickles
down steel beams.

The Next Place

apc — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:01:09 +0000

Every day means
we’re going to be next
the next place
instantly killing a teacher
a couple of hours later,
wearing a camouflage-netted helmet
conversations about how night fell.
Helicopter gunships devastated
the headquarters police,
the presidential security forces,
the navy, and a maintenance man.
They struck taking certain steps toward openness.
This difficult incident,
several young children.
Schoolgirls have no legs.
No place to hide.
They are for the next place
and the next place.