The cow poem is flawless. It is a hymn to simple beingness, a benediction. Bovinity divinity.
I don't know his work yet. If these two poems are characteristic, Francis is a poet of quiet cadences who has the rare gift of revealing the eternity in a moment. He teaches us that there is no need for a poet to wrest something from moments, by larding on elaborate imagery, for example, or struggling for intensity. Close observation is what's called for, and maybe even faith -- faith that the truth doesn't need embroidering, it needs to be seen plain, and stated.
And you're right that these poems using formal strategies in a very natural way; nothing fubsy here.
[This message has been edited by Kate Benedict (edited December 04, 2000).]
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