dinner in a can
I listen for company’s sake
to the night sea
My mother’s cursing
and swearing take
possession of the heads
in the hall.
The dog and I play
at theater, dancing,
hungry for want of dinner.
At home looking at an eel
that my wife bought,
I cried for our dinner
that was all I.
We walk till weary, all in wool,
to dinner after dinner,
and in the evening go see the ship
sunk in the clear afternoon,
money for money
and self for escaped self.
Carpenter, make me
a door into my life.
I am a crow, a plain old woman.
I bring none but myself to dinner
by the light of the moon.
Give me a further gallery
in my good ear.
time among books—
my dinner by and by
gone with the ants
I paint for pay
and stay to dinner,
my house a mess.
Dress me in white
and I turn very ill.
After dinner to the garden
to speak a word
into the night.
I put six spoons
of silver in my pocket
and looked for dinner
in the garden and on my plate
till a great butter-woman
filled our bellies
with horses and with dirt.
Another thin dinner to heat—
few know the full mask.
Some jeer making a common count.
To see so little
is one of the greatest arts.
If that itch my fear would die,
I could have a fine dinner,
put my papers in order,
lie carelessly
with my wife
and walk in the garden.
Letters came by ox and dove, good as oysters.
After dinner I wrote a great many letters.
After that, I slept, God forgive me!
After that, I walked, talking.
After that I sat.