Untitled
for D.S.
O you in that little bark
What is the relation of the painting to its title
The painting bears no relation to its title
The tiny boat bears
nameless people across
water that is infinitely dark
darker even than snow on paving stones
darker than faces in shadow on a boat
The boat is called Blunder, or Nothing, or Parallel Lines
The poem was called I Forget, then Empire, then Game of Cards
a game played yesterday in milky light
light which played across the players’ faces
and the arcane faces of the cards
There is no relation between the painting and its title
The painting came first then its title
The players are playing cards in a little boat
They are asleep and it is dark
Their dream is called The Orderly Electrons
One traveller dreams she does not belong
Another dreams with his eyes wide open
like a solemn philosopher
dead from an act of thought
Two more lie with limbs intertwined
The painting has no title
though it has been signed Keeper of the Book
the signature obviously forged
1993
