Poetry.gov

So the Library of Congress is seeking poets with poems on the themes of either love, or magic and magicians, or names, for the Poetry at Noon reading series. If it were worth the time and paper and postage, what might be appropriate? Something with a little magic and a whole lotta love?

Nuremberg, U.S.A.
by Bill Knott

In this time and place, where "Bread and Circuses" has
become "Bread and Atrocities," to say 'I love you' is
like saying the latest propaganda phrase . . . 'defoliation'
        . . . 'low yield blast'.
If bombing children is preserving peace, then
my fucking you is a war-crime.

Or else something that ditches magic altogether, but still sticks it out of love:

"And When Freedom Is Achieved . . ."
by Kenneth Patchen

You have used a word
Which means nothing.
You have given a word
The power to send men to death.
Men are not free who are sent to die.
Only those who send them are 'free.'
You should have freedom stuffed down your fat throats.

 

The Labor Day Special (Kenneth Patchen with a side of Siddhartha)

For Labor Day, a poem by American working-class hero poet, Kenneth Patchen.

Gautama in the Deer Park at Benares

In a hut of mud and fire
Sits this single man—“Not to want
Money, to want a life in the world,
To want no trinkets on my name”—
And he was rich; his life lives where
Death cannot go; his honor stares
At the sun.

The fawn sleeps. The little winds
Ruffle the earth's green hair. It is
Wonderful to live. My sword rusts
In the pleasant rain. I shall not think
Anymore. I touch the face of my friend;
He shows his dirty teeth as he scratches
At a flea—and we grin. It is warm
And the rice stirs usefully in our bellies.

The fawn raises its head—the sun floods
Its soft eye with the kingdoms of life—
I think we should all go to sleep now,
And not care anymore.

_____

Other links:

Mingus on Patchen, plus two poems, including "Let Us Have Madness"

at The Academy of American Poets site

A handful of love poems, including "For Miriam"

Three more poems, including "Pastoral"