It takes talent to live at night

          

SONG

         by Frank Bidart

You know that it is there, lair

where the bear ceases

for a time even to exist.

Crawl in. You have at last killed

enough and eaten enough to be fat

enough to cease for a time to exist.

Crawl in. It takes talent to live at night, and scorning

others you had that talent, but now you sniff

the season when you must cease to exist.

Crawl in. Whatever for good or ill

grows within you needs

you for a time to cease to exist.

It is not raining inside

tonight. You know that it is there. Crawl in.

THE YOKE

            by Frank Bidart

don't worry           I know you're dead

but tonight

Turn your face again

toward me

when I hear your voice there is now

no direction in which to turn

I sleep and wake and sleep and wake and sleep and wake and

but tonight

turn your face again

toward me

see     upon my shoulders is the yoke

that is not a yoke

don't worry            I know you're dead

but tonight

turn your face again  

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