The thing to do is try for that sweet skin
One gets by staying deep inside a thing.
The image that I have is that of fruit—
The stone within the plum or some such pith
As keeps the slender sphere both firm and sound.
Stay with me, mountain flowers I saw
And battering moth against a wind-dark rock,
Stay with me till you build me all around
The honey and the clove I thought to taste
If lingering long enough I lived and got
Your intangible wild essence in my heart.
And whether that’s by sight or thought
Or staying deep inside an aerial shed
Till imagination makes the heart-leaf vine
Out of damned bald rock, I cannot guess.
The game is worth the candle if there’s flame.
(Jean Garrigue)
More Poetry from Jean Garrigue:
- False Country of the Zoo (Jean Garrigue Poems)
- Invitation to a Hay (Jean Garrigue Poems)
- This Swallow's Empire (Jean Garrigue Poems)
- Forrest (Jean Garrigue Poems)
- The Stranger (Jean Garrigue Poems)
- Some Serious Nonsense for the Cats and Wolves (Jean Garrigue Poems)