Now I'd like to read a poem which started in my mind
just as a phrase.
The phrase Blue Lake I've been interested
for some time in mirror images.
The way that if you have two mirrors at either end of a room
you are reproduced to infinity.
Though, I sometimes imagine that perhaps
in the very, very small images of me,
some distortion takes place.
When I had this phrase in my mind
Blue Lake I wanted to see how far I
could take it in this way.
How far idea would lead on to idea.
So, this is the result, "Blue Lake."
Picture a man or a woman in a deck chair by a blue lake,
reading a poetry book.
Suddenly, a knee jerks in surprise at finding a poem
called Blue Lake.
About a man or a woman in a deck chair by a blue lake,
reading a poetry book.
Whose knee jerks in surprise at finding a poem
entitled Blue Lake.
Concerning a man or a woman on a white wall by a blue lake,
reading a poetry book.
Whose knee jerks in amazement discovering a poem
entitled Blue Lake.
Concerning a man or a woman or a child
on a white wall by a blue lake, reading a poetry book.
Whose knee jerks in amazement discovering a poem
entitled Gray Lake.
It concerns a child on a white wall
by a gray lake reading a poetry book.
Whose knee jerks in recognition discovering a poem
entitled Gray Lake.
Concerning a child on a white wall by a gray lake,
reading a fishing magazine.
Who sits up straight in recognition,
discovering a poem entitled White Shark.
It concerns a child on a white wall by a gray sea,
reading a fishing magazine.
Who sits up straight in illumination discovering
a poem entitled White Shark.
Which concerns a child on a white wall by a gray sea,
dreaming of a white shark.
Which never sleeps.
Would slash it's own gut if it could turn sharp enough.
Which dreams continuously, it is a man
or a woman in a deck chair by a blue lake
reading a poetry book.