The Lichtenberg Figures

April 29, 2005

Gina at a sad day for sad birds quotes this piece from Ben Lerner’s Lichtenberg Figures, a timely reminder that I really need to get my hands on this book:

The dark collects our empties, empties our ashtrays.
Did you mean “this could go on forever” in a good way?
Up in the fragrant rafters, moths seek out a finer dust.
Please feel free to cue or cut

the lights. Along the road of magnitudes, a glyph,
portable, narrow–Damn. I’ve lost it. But its shadow. Cast
in the long run. As the dark touches us up.
Earlier you asked if I would enter data like a room, well,

either the sun has begun to burn
its manuscripts or I’m an idiot, an idiot
with my eleven semiprecious rings. Real snow
on the stage. Fake blood on the snow. Could this go

on forever in a good way? A brain left lace from age or lightning.
The chicken is a little dry and/or you’ve ruined my life.

Tags: Books and Reading, Poetry and Poetics