the thread

i'm sad to see the news about barbara guest's death which seems to be going around the blogs. what a sad thing - another of the great presences. i associate my discovery of her writing (from jon thirkield, i think) with excitement about new ways to write, friendships with y'all, a heady time - like when we kept talking about

'Wild gardens overlooked by night lights. Parking
lot trucks overlooked by night lights. Buildings
with their escapes overlooked by lights"

i thought i would post this one of hers in memory -


THE THREAD

Welcome brutal possessor
of the memory cards,
on the wall under wainscoting
a nail holds the thread.

Allegories ranged invisibly
variances of touch
lapses in speech
the urn burial containing ashes
of belonging to lightning.

We have not taken heroines
to snow, thrust hair under waterfalls,
we sent them to museums
they own splendid eyelashes,
giantesses who wear no clothes.

Sharing mineral fasts
to extend our eyes vertically
we advance beyond
an expectation of number
in bodies that swim at the last moment.

This concern for time
exists in memory cold
it is innocent of earth that suggested you.