No Good

My sweet colleen.
My little, little girl.

Do you suppose that I would let you cry
if I could comfort you?

Oh! How you sob and shudder, little girl!

I'll tell you this:
what's lost is sometimes found again.
It is!

I know,
that's nothing now.
But later on --

Colleen, colleen,
my angel, please don't cry.

(Cypress Boat)

Lie!

I need a story.
Tell it to me, quick.

Do you not see?

My heart is not a mirror.
How can I compass all these particles?
Do you suppose that I can draw them in,
and sensibly reflect the way they look?

I need a legend.
I must have a tale.

I want it gaunt and speedy,
so thin the wind can whistle through its bones,
so spare the shadows cannot cling beside
the sharp-marked edges of its easy shape.

Please,

the dazzle hurts me.

please, please:
I need a lie.

Japan

Soft, now.
Living company,
be still.

Let us press
as flat as shadows;
Let us take no space.

Let us be dim and muted,
dumb as tombs.

No space, no light, no sound.

For we will not engage
another atom of this breathing world
till we have said farewell.

Quiet,
living company,
be still.