A Memory of the Players in a Mirror at Midnight

A Memory of the Players in a Mirror at Midnight

(Zurich, 1917)





They mouth love's language. Gnash



The thirteen teeth



Your lean jaws grin with. Lash



Your itch and quailing, nude greed of the flesh.



Love's breath in you is stale, worded or sung,



As sour as cat's breath,



Harsh of tongue.







This grey that stares



Lies not, stark skin and bone.



Leave greasy lips their kissing. None



Will choose her what you see to mouth upon.



Dire hunger holds his hour.



Pluck forth your heart, saltblood, a fruit of tears.



Pluck and devour!


fdv:

	MS 1917 (Buffalo IV.A.2, fragment), lines 10-11	MS 1919 (Huntington E.6.b), lines 10-11
10	This grey that stares	This grey that stares
11	Will choose what you see to gaze upon	Will choose her what you see to mouth upon.