Just finished Another Animal. Really enjoyed "Sunset." I bought Edwin Morgan, who I had not heard of, on your word, Walter. Looking forward to reading the two alongside each other.
Sunset
The yawn grandiose and transient
of a pink-throated whale
drowning on the pale sky tide
The prairie and our eyes are dyed
the color of longing
The train on its compulsive rail
tools forward spinning the slow
roulette wheel of the land
In miniature its windows thread the stain
The gray sand drinks it red
Our pupils spread to hold it in vain
We plow through monstrous light
approach the narrowing throat of darkness
the tragic height of scarlet passed
before we mark it
Our senses hurriedly bared like knives
to meet the pure shriek
flinch as dusk dilutes the tide
smudges the whale's cheek
to an ashen whimper
Wide
lavish in his savagery
so strawberry-full of promise
spewn out so profligate
then retracted reeled-in stingied soon gone
The land turning in sorrow
where the fiery yawn has faded
the train tools on.
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