The Papier-Mâché Taj Mahal

We know the moon
moves because we can see
the shadow of the earth
on its surface. We can
also see the moon itself
and can gather its light
against our sun. Our eclipses can
occur in newspapers and almanacs:

A LIST OF FAMOUS MOONS

greasy moon
balsa moon
powder moon

When you live on the planet Earth
an eclipse will eventually occur
in your area. Whenever I visit Alaska
I usually tell the Eskimos to really look
at Winter and imagine 94 million
miles away, the disappearance of the sun.
It’s true! Permanent damage may occur,
because we all know that a Universe
placed over the eyes is not entirely safe.

I love you
heart

your visions appear
etched in plates

a recurring dream to rob
the Pharaohs of all their packed-up

their donkeys and sceptres and oval breads

for to transfer objects by spirit
might unfold me, you, and my wheeling pursuers

all loosed among the night skies
these half-moons and wings.

Elements of a circus tore the clothes
from my brain.

Smoking, a hand moved from my hand
to my face and turned away rather than silhouette

itself upon a white surface, bed sheets,
typing paper, skin.

The suite was steamy. On the blue bed
a fish flat on a pile of packaged laundry

and a message: No other boats
are leaving until Monday.

In the bathroom mirror, a mouth
opened in a quiet laugh,

and I could see the even edges of its teeth.
And legs thought a light switch

and the green negligee and the Crazy Titan hair
and the rattled blood, the molted nylon,

and milk evaporated from the bed side glass,
a chalky circle of moon. And all these objects
held me fixed, naked under the sun lamp
as the shining bulb that stroked me

tried to approach the same color,
the same wet sparkle as that point inside me,

I was trying most to conceal from you.