M a t t h e w K l a n e —

7

Day-Glo

Can I write
the word “starburst”
and not
conjure the candy?

Can I write
in my dollhouse
and not
be a Barbie?

12

Edgar Allen Poe

I met a famous writer once at a party
in Paris 1842
He had the personality of a halogen light
I had had an earlier conversation in my twenties
with a young poet in the midst of a crisis
The young poet was also a store clerk
I was also a waitress
“How do you answer the question,” he said
“What do you do for work?”
His pen name was [ ]
J. Edgar Hoover follows us
through this endlessly malevolent video game
to hoard our glowing cursive in the Louvre
“How is one to live?” they said
The chorus in my head

13

My Attention Wanders

Midtown Manhattan
to Stratford-upon-Avon
past plaster caryatids
of shadows of cavemen

“Attention is prayer”
No coincidence
I’m seeing connections
that aren’t there

26

Clocking In

Feed my capitalist cats
Read a few chapters
of Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act
Thirty-two U.S. dollars $42 Canadian
Sit at this All Modern office desk
Do the morning
Rorschach
Tap in
to the Source

37

Deadline

I’ll write “myself” into the lion’s den
and then I’ll write “myself”
a requiem

.