As Numberless As 80 Flowers

Note These 30 poems are loose cento-versions from Louis Zukofsky’s ‘80 Poems’ (he wrote 81 in fact) taken from Anew: Complete Shorter Poetry (1991). Original pagination given in brackets.

Pussy Willow

Looking airs weaving head-
aches, fragile though catkin
unfolds full cure, pussy
willow in its life basket,
blown buds in time
with naked bract       (327)

Wild Geranium

Foolish fire runaway purpling,
cranesbill to uproot the hated
time, friend to all leafheads,
scent of oak but unhedged         (331)

Forsythia

Glance a close-strapped fortune
of force forsythia spring, or
pith aged at the ember of
eye in a smoke of root,
steep green unfolding
yellowist breath        (334)

Lilac

Pale lodging for deep lilac,
the blossom pipes a tempest
for deep-breezed wood,
colour-pruned so bustles
the scatter, sweet nose gone
in the knowing, sere spring    (335)

Snowflakes

Nodding ignorance widens
white-green, a crown wants
throat however rapier paced
in stacked leaf, tosses its own
snowflake cloud on pools of
spring surprise, the glimpse
only sheathed, not shut    (338)

Peter Larkin

.