Shearsman 50
GEOFFREY SQUIRES
From Untitled II
(sections 14-27 from 57)
Coast laced with islands the sea a deep deep blue
broken only by the small puckers of waves
as if from sleep or some other absence
as if it from sleep or some other absence
the mind is full of assertion and denial
which neither thing
and to get the right balance get the balance right
uninflected in any of the ways that it might
inclined turned neither towards one thing nor the other
one thing or another
there is not one moment but that something happens
body place light what else experience
***
Glitter then
or that it might that it might even a little
how they appear to us how they are remembered
each look small glance each little excursion
as between several only one of which
and ready ready as it were
where in truth the mind cannot follow
when all is brought to bear
***
Steady it is steady
and all the time this other thing going on
in the front room
the flowers are arranged by the sea-window the bay
body place light what else
world comes in sound sounds after a little delay
tiny waves the occasional ripple
reaching the water’s edge
only to collapse dissipate itself
last small effect
***
That it might that it might even a little
distraught logic
to get the right balance get the balance right
as between several only one of which
what problem is it we are talking about then
finds things to work on
as if from sleep
into the one small aperture which still exists
in the knowledge that with the knowledge that
what it does it does lightly and without noise
and by the same token
***
Slope of sound down where it comes from
last small effect
has no need of is not part of unaffected by
the mind is full of assertion and denial
and no impediment or obstacle nothing it seems in the way
but to listen for hear the right thing
that we so that we
quick it is quick rapid extraordinarily so
and overlapping not separate or distinct
laid down one upon another one after another
how they appear to us how they are remembered
***
And peopled as it were
remoter things quiescence of distance
pausing only to take in what is different what is new
to each side as far as the eye can see
what kind of memory is it that the body has
this landscape spread out before me like a word
never at rest never quite at rest
so that something should come out of it
so that it should not altogether be wasted
***
Winter sun low and blinding
all that is surface surfaces
unthinkable that it would ever
yes but then
maintains maintains itself
has no need of is not part of
and overlapping not separate or distinct
unthinkable that it would ever
and laid down one upon another one after another
***
How in what way
almost or about to or just after
and overlapping not separate or distinct
magnificent interminable arbitrary inconsolable
memory of them of what of them
that we so that we
almost or about to or just after
unthinkable that it would ever
maintains maintains itself
yes but then
***
Of which we know nothing are only dimly aware
and by the same token
low hum of insects nearby further away
light movement or play
recognition is not knowledge is it
how in what way
repetition of accumulation of
there is not one moment but that something happens
***
Small things that lie in wait
that hover in the air as it were
almost or about to or just after
to get the right balance get the balance right
how in what way
so that each each
that hover in the air as it were
many and at the same time
how they appear to us how they are remembered
***
Behind that and behind that again
hidden sounds unattributable movements
this place which has become a place of the mind
small things that lie in wait
that stand upon the air as it were
minuteness of world each particular
distraught logic
steady it is steady
and that moment just before
it has gathered itself collected itself
***
At the level of the senses
there is not one moment but that something happens
haze sunlight diffused not concentrated
behind that or behind that again
entering or disappearing
or like something that we might imagine
where does it lead nowhere certainly
entering or disappearing
hidden sounds unattributable movements
this place that has become a place of the mind
***
And closed behind us again as if we had never been
entering or disappearing
recognition is not knowledge is it
at the level of the senses
light movement
this present we parted
way or way through
where does it lead nowhere certainly
beyond that or beyond that again
***
And the words themselves reaching towards some conclusionwhat softness is this what light that waits
which takes to itself absorbs into itself
receives
memory reciprocity
recognition is not knowledge is it
what softness is this light that waits
while or until
capacity or loss
the consequences of which
Copyright © Geoffrey Squires, 2002
