Bob Hicok River Poems
- 1. Another Awkward Stage Of Convalescence
Drunk, I kissed the moon
where it stretched on the floor.
I'd removed happiness from a green bottle,
both sipped and gulped
... - 2. Dropping The Euphemism
He has five children, IĆ¢??m papa
to a hundred pencils.
I bought the chair he sat in
... - 3. For Three Whose Reflex Was Yes
Nobody I know is a god. A mother and son
fall into the river's million hands, the river's
smash and grab. They go under, climb the ropeless
water up, wave, open their mouths and scream
... - 4. In Michael Robins-s Class Minus One
At the desk where the boy sat, he sees the Chicago River.
It raises its hand.
It asks if metaphor should burn.
He says fire is the basis for all forms of the mouth.
... - 5. Feeling The Draft
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... - 6. Learning To Swim
At forty-eight, to be given water,
which is most of the world, given life
in water, which is most of me, given ease,
... - 7. Translator's Note
There is a tradition in Laparone that the first
man to wake each morning must sweep
shadows from his porch lest night
pull the long limbs of sunlight
...