Shearsman 56: Lyn Lifshin — Mute, They Were Mute

Shearsman 56

Lyn Lifshin

Mute, They Were Mute

lured, naked, with
out their feathers.
The swans were
like women, whole
families marched
into the gas. The
birds weren't
natives either,
were, some said,
taking over. A
strange beauty,
yes, but wardens
wanted them out.
First we tried
moving them,
he said coldly,
rounding them
up to ship out.
It was too much.
We had no choice
he said they were
startling, they were
mute. I emphasize,
they weren't our
kind of bird,
came from outside.
They would have
taken over.
Transporting them
was our moral choice.
We had to. Sure, a
few protested, said
it was inhuman.
The birds thought
they were going to
dip into the water
and they shot them

Lyn Lifshin's most recent prize-winning book, (Paterson Poetry Award) Before It's Light, was published winter 1999-2000 by Black Sparrow Press, following their publication of Cold Comfort in 1997. Another Woman Who Looks Like Me will be published by Black Sparrow Books (now published by David Godine) in November 2003. Also recently published is A New Film By A Woman In Love With The Dead (March Street Press).

She has published more than 100 books of poetry, including Marilyn Monroe, Blue Tattoo, won awards for her non-fiction and edited 4 anthologies of women's writing including Tangled Vines, Ariadne's Thread, and Lips Unsealed. Her poems have appeared in most literary and poetry magazines and she is the subject of an award winning documentary film, Lyn Lifshin: Not Made Of Glass, available from Women Make Movies. Her poem, 'No More Apologizing' has been called "among the most impressive documents of the women's poetry movement". For interviews, photographs, more biographical material, reviews, interviews, prose, samples of work and more, consult her web site