In Defense of Poetry

Two Poems by Suzanne Gardinier

To the City of Fire

If I forget you let my sleep dwindle
and vanish in the dark early mornings
Let sleep forget me until I learn
to keep you near and not stray and not rest
in my wanderings over your rutted face
How can you think it can ever be finished
between us Do you understand
how the jostlings and marketplaces
of any other city how any
meadow or china cup will summon you
dying my provenance eyes closed trailing
blood from the severed leg left in the trap
you made Do you think you will dance that dance
forever Listen There will be a night
when the steel din of your heartbeat will fall
almost silent when I will ask your clamor
from you and it will be given I mean
to stay I mean to last your rebuffs
betrayals trials of stamina and trust
I mean to part your smoke to sleep
my mindful sleep and with that strength hold you
and say the parting words over you
and listen to the manifold voices
of those you crushed struggle into speech
to give myself to help make what will come

Blues

By this fire I still can feel the wind
By this fire I still can feel the wind
Stays by my shoulders like it's listenin

All night I hear somebody callin me
All night I hear somebody callin me
But I can't think what could the answer be

When I get home I'll lock the peaceful in
When I get home I'll lock the peaceful in
When I get home I'll tell you where I been