Andrew Maxwell

Back to Issue 3.4

binding

If thicketed therein that. Only that passage of
twilight in which there is
now that there is

now. No other unwritten

word. Only that passage of
twilight in which these
thorns bleed
will yet bleed. That
new breath you will
therein. If thicketed therein yet.

Only receive.

 
                        *


Thereafter that as if. In secret. These pages of pages like

nightfall might flower
with that which that
by which

your name might
already be

buried. In secret. Deep even. Thereafter

in every last summons
of lilac. Thereafter

of dust.

                        *


Each thorn each as wide as that open
throat out of earth out of which
nothing
is made is already made
into that breath. Now that
breath you already  

let go of which. Now you let go of
which. That which already

you are as you are.

nunc dimittis

Enravished by lavender.           As if dried lavender. As if
at last now. Enravished by only. That absence
by which now. That absence

in which now we are
that we only are
nothing

now. Other than          nothing. That nothing that we are

entirely. Gathered by               only. Enravished by only
this darkening distance in which now
we are that we are now. One

naked life. Greening. At last
new in which new

ferns early will grow.

mystery

Acrostic eyes widen. If dreamlike. If woven
unsuddenly woven though only. If woven
by spirals of ivy
unfurling in spirals
of ivy and starlight. Soft spirals
now. Into which

only your eyes are drawn. Into which only
your eyes are entirely

drawn by no singular
image no image
sufficient.

To gather by midnight your woven
eyes therein. If therein
unknowing

eyes widen. If therein they bind.

Andrew Maxwell is from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. His poems have previously appeared or are forthcoming in Conjunctions, Colorado Review, Lana Turner, Grotto, and antiphony, among other places.