Literature 4-10-2006

What Light: This Week’s Poem: Sarah Conbere

Sarah Roesler Conbere is the second poet chosen in this once-a-week yearlong survey of Minnesota’s poets and their work. The series is sponsored by Magers & Quinn Booksellers.

Sarah Roesler Conbere
1




Abandonment
–after Brenda Hillman

—And just northeast of the city,
people were dreaming of tulips.

Mice nibbled at cracks in house foundations.

In the night gardens,

the lovers hovered over wire fencing with their hearts

and made love seem effortless—but wait!

What do you fear in a kiss?

(I fear the exchange of breath, as in December,

when winter comes down in one day.)

What do you fear in the kiss?

(I fear that moment of sharing—

of heat on heat that burns red softly

where I thought I could stay cold, and I fear

it will consume me—)


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