My Vocabulary Did This to Me: The Collected Poetry of Jack Spicer

BIRDLAND, CALIFORNIA

That comes from beyond birthdays, That makes poetry And moves stars. BIRDLAND, CALIFORNIA The stairs upstairs were stairs For the sake of ceremony If Gertrude Stein had tried them on tiptoe She would not have reached the 2nd floor. The 2nd floor was a floor For the sake of ceremony What I mean is This is a poem about Orpheus Orpheus, he had the weight of Eurydice upon his back He tried to carry her Up that imaginary stairway. Eurydice could be anyone. Is I suppose Anyone. That makes the poem harder. This night ( Joe Dunn could give a date October 1st That’s Joe Dunn’s date) But I can’t. Butterflies transfigure and burn In the absences of postmen. But Joe Dunn will come home Past all those unreal stairs Will Make a noise when the door opens, Spicer: My Vocabulary Did This to Me page 60 60 Will turn on the light. Will turn on the light Madness lies there. Orpheus collapses Under the weight of the sentence, killing butterflies. It is already October 2nd. October 3rd. Will it ever be important again Whether it is October 2nd or October 3rd? Have you ever wondered What I mean is When will they take all of us back to Birdland? An embarrassed Orpheus Arises With a heavy Eurydice in his arms What I mean is can a poem ever Take accidentals for its ultimates? It is now October 5th (or 6th) English majors Can discover the correct date (The Yankees used seven pitchers That will tell you the day) I was lonelier than you are now (or will be) October something, 1956. “Imagine Lucifer . . .” Imagine Lucifer An angel without angelness An apple Plucked clear by will of taste, color, Strength, beauty, roundness, seed Absent of all God painted, present everything An apple is. Spicer: My Vocabulary Did This to Me page 61 61 ...