It was a late book given up for lost br again and again with its sentences br br bare at last and phrases that seemed transparent br revealing what had been there the whole way br br the poems of daylight after the day br lying open at last on the table br br without explanation or emphasis br like sounds left when the syllables have gone br br clarifying the whole grammar of waiting br not removing one question from the air br br or closing the story although single lights br were beginning by then above and below br br while the long twilight deepened its silence br from sapphire through opal to Athena’s iris br br until shadow covered the gray pages br the comet words the book of presences br br after which there was little left to say br but then it was night and everything was known br br From 'The Shadow Of Sirius' br Publisher: Copper Canyon Press (September 1, 2008)br br William Stanley Merwinbr br