Hymns to Hymnself
1.
He had his haiku too, as who does not.
Where there are compounds there will be
molecules, thence atoms and apothegems. Eagles
will appear high overhead
screaming unheard in the ecstasy of sex
and Walt, down here, will hear
and make an annotation. That is how
poetry operates – now,
in his day, and in old Edo.
2.
He hated to be talked of when he was
out of the room, fearing to miss
some wild encomium he might agree with
and add to the great mass of his blurbs.
That was just part of being
All-Encompassing. He was,
in Himself, the Compleate Lover,
male and female, rough and tender,
dark and light; as such, a star,
a little jealous of those who might think
to be his co-stars. Look up at the night sky
(he did, all the time). Do you see co-stars there?
— Tom Disch (1940-2008)
April 10, 2008
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Author: The Best American Poetry
