Records

By Mark McMorris
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Before the astronomer's table
a circle with a demon inside
demons with wings of a bat
(Before the astronomer's table)
overhead like an armada of ships

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Time of the weed, time of bramble
along the bank of a canal
muddy with old newspaper
close-held surface to write on
to dance as with desire
black letters where roads meet

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Tonight in the city, only the chains
make soft noises like bells
only the dogs are awake
the fences lean over
to scrape their elbows
on stone and broken glass
 

Copyright Credit: Mark McMorris, "Records" from The Book of Landings. Copyright © 2016 by Mark McMorris. Reprinted by permission of Wesleyan University Press.
Source: The Book of Landings (Wesleyan University Press, 2016)