Descent, as Usual, into Hell


I’ve told her now so long
so often and sojourn salut

diamond
star or

(ouest
or quest or)

worry bead
relinquish

redolent as always
as the heated rose

summer and
a scent

(allot illusion as
is necessary to)

annealing praise
reticulate as tongue

mighty and a mouse
alike a maze

can he her up haul
or over if and may

asylum for her worship
in the night announce

the word of way
widen the weave

the was or is of
story is a story of



This poem “Descent, as Usual, into Hell” originally appeared in The Art of Autobiography. Spec. issue of Canadian Literature 90 (Autumn 1981): 91.

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