Against the Evidence: Selected Poems, 1934–1994

For Yaedi

Each Stone Each stone its shape each shape its weight each weight its value in my garden as I dig them up for Spring planting, and I say, lifting one at a time, There is a joy here in being able to handle so many meaningful differences. For Yaedi Looking out the window at the trees and counting the leaves, listening to a voice within that tells me nothing is perfect so why bother to try, I am thief of my own time. When I die I want it to be said that Iwasted hours in feeling absolutely useless and enjoyed it, sensing my life more strongly than when I worked at it. Now I know myself from a stone or a sledgehammer. / Identify I identify with the wooden shed in my neighbor's backyard and with cords ofwood neatly piled. I am identified with the necessary, whether I myselfam necessary.Why does a man go on breathing when he is in despair? How would it help to know, consciously, clearly,rationally, but what is rational about the ncessary? If to live and have pride in oneself isrational, then the necessary is rational. I sayto my neighbor, 123 ...