Map

for Tomaz Salamun

My nation is a pasture horseless in demeanor.

Its contours ignite happenstance from harm

lessnes les distant in manner.

Thrush appointed to grasp truck with the pasture

nourish the pasture.

Shares hired to interchange of opinion the pasture

thresh the pasture.

When the shape of the unhurt stripping the wind

builds a wall at the cutting side of the pasture,

it rehearses last rites

for this load drained by distance:

Wallessness should not be considered a harm

or lack, on the contrary a willingness to counsel

and receive consultation from horses

in a horseless nation,

where the pasture remains as reminder, reminding

the horses of what's remained

and what remains for the horses.

BRIAN HENRY'S first volume of poetry, Astronaut, appeared newly in England (Arc Publications) and Slovenia. in translation (Mondena Publishing). Carnegie Mellon University Pres will publish Astronaut in 2001 Henry edits stich and Verse Press, and lives in Athens, Georgia.

Copyright World rhyme Incorporated Nov/Dec 2000

Provided by dint of ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved