I sent a pre-election sonnet of sorts to my friend Matt Hart. He then did a most excellent Ted Berrigan on it. So here you have it, before and after. Yay America! Obamanos!
It Was Cold in the Country I Remember
November 3, 2008
The children imagine a fire in the yard.
They’re not yet old enough to read or remember.
More stones and twigs on stones and twigs.
Ears redden in early November
winds of this could be. We’re drinking
beer beneath pecan trees repeating
what we heard on NPR, non-sequitur being
the new sequitur. Like a train a coming.
Like Mahalia saying tell them
they don’t need their hats or coats
about the dream, Martin. Tell them…
this could be. Even the air votes
yes we can feel it from here, the fire
lit in minds. On our skin. To the sky.
The Country Was Amazing, I Remember
November 5, 2008
In the backyard, the children pretend to build a fire,
started in the minds. On our skin. To the sky.
piling twigs and stones atop more twigs and stones.
we can feel it from here, the fire
They are not yet old enough to read or remember.
They don’t need their coats. Say yes
Ears redden in the early November winds of this could be
about the dream, Martin. Tell them…
only proof that survival is moving.
Mahalia standing up, saying Tell them
Grown-ups drink beer beneath pecan trees
or was that beer I hear a train a coming I hear
and repeat what we last heard on NPR, non-sequitur
being the new sequitur, a new day rising…
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