Just a Dog

The Labrador stepped
High, in the snow
That had fallen for
What seemed like
Two years of grammar school and
My father,
Icicles on his mustache, frozen
From shoveling the mile long drive,
Stood beside him near
The big hill. Our dog Zachary,
In a long line of dogs,
Was king. Tall and proud, thick
Black coat, always
Looking you in the eyes, thinking.
He stepped high
In the snow that day
When the evergreens were
Powdered and glistening white,
When the only other color was
The blue of my snowsuit, when
The grey light from the sun came behind the
Saddening winter clouds
And I smiled at him,
Sharing our secret.
Earlier he slipped
On the fresh snow and
Tumbled down the steps of our back porch.
And even at nine, I’ll be damned, if
After he stood and shook himself
He didn’t look back at me
Embarrassed.

From George Oppen, Many Years Ago

Still framed photographs, capture –

two moving things –

spinning record, lips explore.

Oh why oh why do

any moments end.

Warm,

so warm,

two bodies tangled in bed.

For a Friend

The water was still and

The horseflies buzzed, when

We talked about moving away. Here,

We were already doing that;

Sitting on hot rocks and

Eating from cold cans.

Later, the sun will set and

We'll look out for where the Earth curves.

And when we leave, we'll leave

The stones from ‘round the fire

In all their right places, so that

Others might find them.



All that I ever wanted

Was someone to give up with.

My Bed, Sleepless

1.

Always
Hands toward

The breath in neck,
The beating heart
Beneath.

My mouth the gas chamber

And love always grasping.

2.

Wet faces

All in company;
The others

A mystery,
Through and through

Making the snow.

And cold
Making the necessity of

Fire.

3.

Awake

I am reading now
And it is of Auschwitz

It is the night,
It is that night

And my face, red
Is everything
Of Auschwitz

The sins
Be they of others, ever
Be they of ours