Andrew Maxwell
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.