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Keys
- Wesleyan University Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
12 keys Phi Beta Kappa poem, Yale University, 2011 Likeanisland,akeymakesadoor.Inthesurge Ofitsmineralclarity,seascomeunbound. Thoughanarchcurvestogether,thekeystonewillstay Bracedingravity,lockedbyimmensity,wound Toatempleinairbythespiralingplay Thatcouldtumblemuchheavierforces.What’sfound Pastthemusicalnotesthatcascadeandconverge Inakey,pastthetockthetickcarriesaway Whenit’swoundbyakey?Therearepatternsthatmerge Meanings,silentuntilwecodethemopen, Cluedtousbytherandomknowingtribes: Carvings,letters,hands,faces,symbols,stars. Eachwarmfriction’svibrationcircumscribes Onemoreseatintheclearingwhereweare Gathered,circlingahomewecan’tdescribe. What’sthewordbutawordthatcan’tbespoken? Who’dtearpleasureoutpastlife’sironbars? Where’stheuseofacodethatwon’tbebroken? Aringofkeyshangslikeaquestionatyourside. Youmovethroughtheansweringdarknesslikeakey, Whilewindowsofmoonlightbranchdownthecatacombs Andrustleeachprisonerintomystery. Eachlock,likeeachroom,isalonetilltheopeningcomes; Yourringreachesone,thenanother.Liberty Repeatsdownthecorridor,doorspulledopenwide, Explodingmoreshowersofsweetnessthroughthecombs Whoselockshadbeenwaitingforonekeytobetried. ...