CANTO 37
And his death, quaint.
I like quaint. I like to cultivate quaint, to have quaint hanging round my ardent gate,
there is nothing like quaint.
I look at her, and I think "quaint," and when this happens, I am attracted.
Metaphorically speaking. Eating quaint for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Intellectually, penetrating quaint.
I want to know quaint back to front and upside down and inside out,
and I have the equipment for the task, I'm told.
Quaint is a spring day in the rain
in England's Cotswold Hills,
by the bait-house, beside the marsh, at eleven standing beside
her sister who is sixteen
inches taller, and thinking you'd better not go to bed with her.
Quaint is not merely decorative-it fills with meaning & some of it sticks.
If I get up in the morning, it's thanks to quaint. I can't recommend quaint highly enough.
I stay up late for quaint.
I keep solemn watch for quaint
I abide its coming, as things do to me.
When people tell me, 'Quaint is catching on too fast & becoming common,'
I always agree.
Because I think it's a quaint idea.
I'm glad there's quaint enough
to go around.
Speaking, as I am, of quaint, I double over, as though in pain.
I look through my legs and have
a great view of quaint. One never gets over it entirely.
My very existence is riddled w/ quaint."
Talking about how she deprives him
of choice, and if at times he arms
himself w/ complaint, his
torment
subsides at his first
sight of her.
Cecelia.
For all that he has ever suffered
for love
rumpled & bruised
how his presence took. For by his
portrait
all may judge his deficiencies,
the too-soft face, mouth
a twist of doubt
the laurel crown
ridiculous as any reputation
that precedes
acquaintance.
The eyes
yes, soft as a woman's, can be
estimated
handsome, but a darkness, doubting,
also mars them, dark breeze ruffling
calm lake, ruining reflection.
The nose
less said the better.
Only love
can work for him. The voice
trusting what karma prompts
& memory devises.
Then time stops
to remark his body, long since
registered: not proportionate, but
virile.
Kirlian flickers
unseen by the naked eye
together w/ their perfume,
say what's left
Laura-
praise begins with the first syllable
of your name.
Two things I want to say:
I dreamed of kissing you,
and my heart opened to you
the first day we met.
