Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Alice Notley


collage of naked woman's body without head and cut-out words that read "hi Carlos Dear Henry / brilliant mother / Introducing Barney / — alcohol is happy to be / assured of her company"

30th Birthday

May I never be afraid 
especially of myself  
but 
Muhammed Ali are you telling 
the truth?  
Well you're being true aren't you and  
you talk so wonderfully in your body 
that protects you with physique of voice  
raps within dance 
May I never be afraid 

rocked and quaked  
the mantilla is lace  
whose black is oak  
But if I'm dark I'm strong 
as my own darkness 
my strength the universe  
whose blackness is air 
only starry 
lace 
But if I'm alive I'm strong  
as life 
Strong as the violets 
in Marlon Brando's fist  
his dissemblance flourished into truth  
She  
took them 
I'd take me too  
I do 
and my Ali I see you  
a hard bright speck of me  
the savage formalist  
authentic deed of gossip 
a kind body

at
Labels: , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Barbara Guest

  Santa Fe Trail I go separately The sweet knees of oxen have pressed a path for me ghosts with ingots have burned their bare hands it is th...

  • Barbara Guest
      Santa Fe Trail I go separately The sweet knees of oxen have pressed a path for me ghosts with ingots have burned their bare hands it is th...
  • (no title)
     
  • Countee Cullen for Harold Jackman
    Love Tree Come, let us plant our love as farmers plant A seed, and you shall water it with tears, And I shall weed it with my hands until Th...