Pastior 1927-2006

always

by Oscar Pastior


there's no such thing as the poem.
there's always only this poem that
happens to read you. but because
in this poem see above you can
say there's no such thing as the
poem and there's always only
this poem that happens to
read you even the poem that you
don't read can read you and there be no
such thing as always only this
poem here. both you and you
read that and this. call both by
name: they read you even if
there's no such thing as you only here

(Translated by Rosmarie Waldrop )

Thank you to Pierre Joris for, again, introducing me to a new poet I like. There is so much more to know. Check out http://pjoris.blogspot.com/