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John Ashbery

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John Ashbery died at aged 90 on Sep 3, 2017. 
   I found him on September 4th. 

 

 

(This in my series on/for/from/to/through dead poets.)

I found John today.
John died yesterday. 

I read of John today.
I vibrate now to his pinch.

Somewhere by a poisoned river
a dead man was born...
Somewhere by a noisy airfield
a pre-writ obit finds me -
The news can still be news.
My future in writing has
been torn and reborn,
today.  By George, by John!

A minced oath 
of mint stuff.

John left in order to
be found and I surround
myself with his words -
Speaking aloud a baleful
cento of his wordings.
A funerary recitation
lofted into the bitter air
as I read to myself and
some phrases go 
burbledy out -
smoke in the pines. 

What else, who else
might next die that I 
will find it?

Copyright © | Year Posted 2017




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