Aquatic Nocturne by Sylvia Plath

deep in liquid turquoise slivers of dilute light

quiver in thin streaks of bright tinfoil on mobile jet:

pale flounder waver by tilting silver:

in the shallows agile minnows flicker gilt:

grapeblue mussels dilate lithe and pliant valves:

dull lunar globes of blubous jellyfish glow milkgreen:

eels twirl in wily spirals on elusive tails:

adroir lobsters  amble darkly olive on shrewd claws:

down where sound comes blunt and wan like the bronze tone of a sunken gong.

1922

Found photo (top) and “Napoleon Crossing the Alps” by Jacques-Louis David (1815). Notice the expression in both horses’ eyes.

Your smell the smell of your hair and many other things
will live on inside me.
In me and I’m not Ronsard or Baudelaire

I’m Robert Desnos who, because I knew
and loved you,
Is as good as they are.
I’m Robert Desnos who wants to be remembered
On this vile earth for nothing but his love of you.

A la mysterieuse

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Nick Drake – Blossom