After Lorca

Let me talk to you plainly

dove-wash and heat wave the city reaching 100

because of the concrete yes

what else besides the minor barrages

stick with us what else but

the painterly something-or-other the still lifes

you left us how you wrote

I will not see it to refuse your friend’s death

I can see how that might work for a while

elegy something animate inside you

and something simple as sight to keep you company

finally too lonely to keep one’s eyes open

as if to keep one’s eyes open were to be lonely

and keeping sight company were something simple

as elegy so animate it works

for a while I can see how

in refusing a friend’s death you would see it

then give it to us in painterly

something-or-other a still life

that sticks with us here inside the minor barrages

the city reaching 100 concrete

dear one before they come for you let me talk plainly

of heat wave and dove-wash