Song of the Round Man

(for Sarah when she’s older)

The round and sad-eyed man puffed cigars as if

he were alive. Gillyflowers

to the left of the apple, purple bells to the right

and a grass-covered hill behind.

I am sad today said the sad-eyed man

for I have locked my head in a Japanese box

and lost the key.

I am sad today he told me

for there are gillyflowers by the apple

and purple bells I cannot see.

Will you look at them for me

he asked, and tell me what you find?

I cannot I replied

for my eyes have grown sugary and dim

from reading too long by candlelight.

Tell me what you’ve read then

said the round and sad-eyed man.

I cannot I replied

for my memory has grown tired and dim

from looking at things that can’t be seen

by any kind of light

and I’ve locked my head in a Japanese box

and thrown away the key.

Then I am you and you are me

said the sad-eyed man as if alive.

I’ll write you in where I should be

between the gillyflowers and the purple bells

and the apple and the hill

and we’ll puff cigars from noon till night

as if we were alive.

Source: The Lion Bridge (New Directions Publishing Corporation, 1998)