A Good Start

For those of you who don't know (and many of you don't) I am a HUGE William Carlos Williams fan (or WCW as I refer to him in my head...what great initials!) I am currently mid-obsession and I wanted to share him with the world (or the three to four people who will read this: britt, pants, ry, maybe ben, maybe jess, maybe ken) he is so beautiful and simple--yet complex. I love when authors pack a huge punch with only three little words, makes me wish I was that smart/talented. As I try to write for Britt's new zine reading more helps, espeially poetry, wonder what that tiggers in your brain? Hm.
anyway- here are exceprts from "Asphodel That Greeny Flower"

Of asphodel, that greeny flower,

  like a buttercup

    upon its branching stem-

save that it's green and wooden-

  I come, my sweet,

    to sing to you.

We lived long together

  a life filled,

    if you will,

with flowers.  So that

  I was cheered

    when I came first to know

that there were flowers also

  in hell.

    Today

I'm filled with the fading memory of those flowers

  that we both loved,

    even to this poor

colorless thing-

  I saw it

    when I was a child-

little prized among the living

  but the dead see,

    asking among themselves:

What do I remember

  that was shaped

    as this thing is shaped?

There is something

    something urgent

I have to say to you

  and you alone

    but it must wait

while I drink in

  the joy of your approach,

    perhaps for the last time.

And so

  with fear in my heart

    I drag it out

and keep on talking

  for I dare not stop.

    Listen while I talk on

against time.

  It will not be

    for long.

I have forgot

  and yet I see clearly enough
I cannot say

  that I have gone to hell

    for your love

but often

  found myself there

    in your pursuit.

I do not like it

  and wanted to be

    in heaven.  Hear me out.

Do not turn away.