1599N

(like the Assyrians

we had it coming)

lately

I’ve been lately

and I kicked the bucket

just like the woman

they described for so long

all finally

and finally

drugged dog and her curls

I’m dying of thirst

I don’t know what’s what what’s first

and I

unscrew the cork

chewing the cork

and I’m all meat

and meet

my dying friends

and

I don’t know what’s worse

(Herodotus forgetting my name)

the pain in my legs

after a short hike

or a spring lover

blossoming and sighing and

collapsing

I only feel limestone and dark

my tongue shriveled and

fire crackers

dug in

dug in dug in

did you know me then

(like that last king

with his pickled head

his pride and his concubines)