UNLIMITED

The American Poetry Review

COPY OF A ROMAN COPY OF A GREEK ORIGINAL

I.

Carrying his toy guitarthe boy-god laughing looks awaythe bees climb the columns] stone bees on stone columns [the head of Hercules inside the mouth of the lionhe killed the lion hewears the head as a hood his eyes look outhis mouth ] is he carrying my wife askshis penis in his hand no I saythat’s his club [ is his broken clubfear cannot forget itself once the marble memorizes fear] gorgon logic [ the motionprecedent hairswept back by the violent turnof the heads looking back at what horrorpursues them boy’s twin-sister, his mothertheir mouths open I think they arescreaming ] but I hear no scream [toddler-apollo is laughing and the laughsounds like footsteps on the granite stairs going up likeI know the pollen being gathered is dust like I knowwhen I turn my head to the monster chasing usI am staring at the wall

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from The American Poetry Review

The American Poetry Review4 min read
Two Poems
The sun is drifting away again, behind cloudsthat look most like the hairs well sprung from my temples. I can’t see the sun setting,but I know it is. So many things are like this: merely a sensation of truth. I can’t see my bodychanging, but I know i
The American Poetry Review2 min read
Become a Friend
“I think of The American Poetry Review as one of the strongest literary forces of our time. APR is where I go to both discover new poets and rekindle my love with some of the foundational poets. There are times when reading an entire issue, cover to
The American Poetry Review7 min read
In the Winter Ruins
—Budapest, 2024 That I stood at the doorof the second century— That I crossedbeneath two giant highways to whereLegionnaires bathed-- The Great Baths— That above, the continuous roar,trucks and cars freshly 21st century god awful — That in such an un

Related Books & Audiobooks