Archipelago

by Kenneth Irby

"My friends, let us love what we love. The man who damn well refuses to love what he loves dooms himself." - Van Gogh

18 pages, Chapbook

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[M.W.P.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

FOR THE SKALD

1

so woke from the dream of
galdr charm gala sing
young and alone on a long road
and the sleeper seldom the victor
I-forget the heron hovers
men must speak of what men do
flame quickens flame
what happens cannot be hidden
the Arch-Bowman graces
Eye of Archer Weight of Arrow
across Song's Steelyard
Reaches of the Song Reach of the Flame

2

awake early wove words
heaped high calms of praise
made boughs leaf with speech
across song's fields not soon to fall



Sweden, the crowns
of how much come I spent
fucking you in the ass

October, later, October
the cold calls travel
or held of me, you

or Nunez, on the road
there is no way to know
but go back on to



rain and warm across the Northern Appalachians
 as far as the Lakes
the Prairies 40° yesterday 80° at Atlantic City 

Gieseking's birthday 1895, Rush's brother's funeral
 a year ago, the First Arabesque

and so seek many homes of the spirit
 whether it is one
 or bundles, restless

the high plateaus, the high
 Plateau, The Rio Grande

through the Ry-o Grand and by rug merchants down
Christian passes East and West rock St Vartan
crown behind call Nunez
Moctezuma and St Olaf Christ
the knight is dying in his bed, and with a stone beside



and there beyond the brocade wall

 crossing the eyes "we got onto

 acid trip years before the third don Juan"

 "yourself or better with someone else in the mirror cross

and the third eye overlap stare into it's

 and then focuses"

 and your face over mine not ours and the cloud, say

 not the light bu with the glow, say the

 and now feel that, follow that

 fountain pen straight in the lecturer's face

violence is quickness the sting of the tail Mars

 in the closeness of living together

 the ascendant how quick

 and fall

and now that way without remorse and without "No, I'm not mad, I only

 get mad at something important and nothing a human being can do

 is that important"

 how easily I have forever talked to you

 romantic forever to learn for

 and does not talk of love or fucking but

 impeccable no getting used to



1


until there is no other place to go and at that place

dance before death


the only place where you can go both out and in

power is stored is home


but every particle


2


I am no crow, hath not th'advantage

 etc.

and you across from me

 also the

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