Lecture Notes

My two favorite living poets

are named Mary and Anne—

these are two names I consider 

to be the same name—

an archaic, simple name given 

to great and common women alike—

In this way, I see them as fragments 

of each other, Eternity, and Creation—

rather than who they actually are—

Marie and Anne—I believe

each person, especially poets 

should name themselves, declare 

devotion to their livingness—but 

one could also say I’ve made 

a fool’s choice—I’ve made myself

small, common, hapless, territorial—

a neutral, nearly flightless bird—