Scheherazade - Richard Siken

[aimlesswanderer.livejournal.com]

Scheherazade
Richard Siken

Tell me about the dream where we pull the bodies out of the lake
and dress them in warm clothes again.
How it was late, and no one could sleep, the horses running
until they forget that they are horses.
It's not like a tree where the roots have to end somewhere,
it's more like a song on a policeman's radio,
how we rolled up the carpet so we could dance, and the days
were bright red, and every time we kissed there was another apple
to slice into pieces.
Look at the light through the windowpane. That means it's noon, that means
we're inconsolable.
Tell me how all this, and love too, will ruin us.
These, our bodies, possessed by light.
Tell me we'll never get used to it.

Comments

[sybaritica.livejournal.com]

God. That's erotic.

[aimlesswanderer.livejournal.com]

It is. So much of Siken's work falls in that category.

And what are _you_ doing up so late? :)

./w

[sybaritica.livejournal.com]

Restless tonight. Like most nights. Can't sleep - listening to the city thrum and shiver outside my window.

[aimlesswanderer.livejournal.com]

I am having a glass of wine listening to Horowitz play Chopin's Ballade No.1 in G minor.

Hello, I am nocturnal. Nicetomeetya.

./w

[bmente-inc.livejournal.com]

Oh God, Horowitz + Chopin's Ballades (1 and 3 especially) = soul in agonized rapture.

[aimlesswanderer.livejournal.com]

I agree. No 1 is my favourite (I am in office and it's playing as I write this). I ventured on my first attempt at playing the first page of this ballade last night. Let's see.

./w

[moonglows.livejournal.com]

I really like Richard Siken.

[atlashrugged.livejournal.com]

I will never get tired of

Crush

.

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

that is just... mm. lovely.

[ilex011-reboot.livejournal.com]

This made my night. Thank you.

[rainsquall.livejournal.com]

I love this poem. So much.

[ballpointsword.livejournal.com]

i feel like i'm pretty much guaranteed to love anything you post. it's almost annoying, actually, but i'm so grateful. thank you .

[aimlesswanderer.livejournal.com]

Oh you are quite welcome.

./w

[keonaa.livejournal.com]

This is beautiful!

[aimlesswanderer.livejournal.com]

You always remind me of "Last night in Calcutta" by Ginsberg.

./w

[keonaa.livejournal.com]

Arbit, is it? and always..but

[claymedeiros.livejournal.com]

Lovely words and rhythm with over riding sensuality and the dissonance of the images. I remember "our bodies, possessed by light." Like the poem, there is joy and longing in the memory.

[sectums3mpra.livejournal.com]

This is one of my favorite poems of all time.