Asperities
Reading edition
Mitchell Dawson
Threat
If you should come into my cave Bringing molded beads of sunlight For offering— I would trample your beads And crush you With that great bone of darkness Which I have gnawed for years And which has left me Meagre as a gnarled root.
In Passing
One moment— Your friend Has squeezed great drops from you Upon his palette; With your color he has wrought— Masterpieces, you say? But the empty tube Grown flat in his hand, Will he hold it or pick up another, Your friend—
Teresa
Do you remember Antonino— Swift-winged, green in the sun? Into the snap-dragon throat of desire Flew Antonino. Snap!... The skeleton of Antonino has made A good husband, a good provider.