BORDERING ON MIRACULOUS
LY N L E Y E D M E A D E S and SA SK I A L E E K
21120 Miraculous 1.2.indd 4-1
1/11/21 1:23 PM
The detail of an island maintains its own outline. In the tree, a yellow bird. On the toast, three spreads of maintaining. Behind the outline, the detail of an island.
4
21120 Miraculous 1.2.indd 4-5
5
1/11/21 1:23 PM
The detail of an island maintains its own outline. In the tree, a yellow bird. On the toast, three spreads of maintaining. Behind the outline, the detail of an island.
4
21120 Miraculous 1.2.indd 4-5
5
1/11/21 1:23 PM
Look at all the little things: the little socks: the little fingers: the little reward of doing the settling: of getting the baby to sleep so we can do the other things: he sleeps: we wait for him to wake: he wakes: we curse: already: but I just sat down: how will I do all the other things: the same things every night: every day: look baby: can you see the birds: and now he knows the mouth-sounds that mean: find a window: look for things moving through the sky: what a look on his little face: we watch him watching the world and wonder which is more miracle: the things moving through the sky or the eyes that move to watch them: where are the birds, baby?
6
21120 Miraculous 1.2.indd 6-7
7
1/11/21 1:23 PM
Look at all the little things: the little socks: the little fingers: the little reward of doing the settling: of getting the baby to sleep so we can do the other things: he sleeps: we wait for him to wake: he wakes: we curse: already: but I just sat down: how will I do all the other things: the same things every night: every day: look baby: can you see the birds: and now he knows the mouth-sounds that mean: find a window: look for things moving through the sky: what a look on his little face: we watch him watching the world and wonder which is more miracle: the things moving through the sky or the eyes that move to watch them: where are the birds, baby?
6
21120 Miraculous 1.2.indd 6-7
7
1/11/21 1:23 PM
This circle moons towards us with its own spreading borders. Yet the way the spreading happens is something quite accidental even when it maintains circularity. Circularity is a gentle kind of repeating and so is happening in the present, while in the shadow of the green. To be or not to be repeating is a miraculous question to be repeating.
8
21120 Miraculous 1.2.indd 8-9
9
1/11/21 1:23 PM
This circle moons towards us with its own spreading borders. Yet the way the spreading happens is something quite accidental even when it maintains circularity. Circularity is a gentle kind of repeating and so is happening in the present, while in the shadow of the green. To be or not to be repeating is a miraculous question to be repeating.
8
21120 Miraculous 1.2.indd 8-9
9
1/11/21 1:23 PM
10
21120 Miraculous 1.2.indd 10-11
11
1/11/21 1:23 PM
10
21120 Miraculous 1.2.indd 10-11
11
1/11/21 1:23 PM
The cup holds some quietness in the way that some edges hold roundness. Bring it to your lips and consider the cinch and slide of your mouth on its edge. Even the word has a cupness to it, surrounded as it is with its palatable plosives: cup, cup.
12
21120 Miraculous 1.2.indd 12-13
13
1/11/21 1:23 PM
The cup holds some quietness in the way that some edges hold roundness. Bring it to your lips and consider the cinch and slide of your mouth on its edge. Even the word has a cupness to it, surrounded as it is with its palatable plosives: cup, cup.
12
21120 Miraculous 1.2.indd 12-13
13
1/11/21 1:23 PM
Suppose, orange ball, that you have no upside-down. And if I turn you this way or that, only the texture of you will look to smack the silence. I turn you round and round and hope to find more clarity. Even mutton might be softer than this. I turn you round, and the sun comes through the window as though forging a tunnel through the silent, dusty smacks. Even happiness might be quieter than this.
14
21120 Miraculous 1.2.indd 14-15
15
1/11/21 1:23 PM
Suppose, orange ball, that you have no upside-down. And if I turn you this way or that, only the texture of you will look to smack the silence. I turn you round and round and hope to find more clarity. Even mutton might be softer than this. I turn you round, and the sun comes through the window as though forging a tunnel through the silent, dusty smacks. Even happiness might be quieter than this.
14
21120 Miraculous 1.2.indd 14-15
15
1/11/21 1:23 PM
See the way the yellow contains— it seems to say no to islands but yes to borders I am not an island but I still prefer some outlines to others. This orange circle decides its own outlines. Sometimes they leak and sometimes they border.
16
21120 Miraculous 1.2.indd 16-17
17
1/11/21 1:23 PM
See the way the yellow contains— it seems to say no to islands but yes to borders I am not an island but I still prefer some outlines to others. This orange circle decides its own outlines. Sometimes they leak and sometimes they border.
16
21120 Miraculous 1.2.indd 16-17
17
1/11/21 1:23 PM