Open Letters Monthly

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EVEN AS WE SPEAK

THE MOVIES. HOME LIFE. CHILDHOOD. PAST CENTURIES. FACES AND TALK. PAINTINGS AND SENSATIONS. STUBBORN SHYNESS. BRIGHTBIRDS FLOWERING MORNING. ORSON WELLES. CITIZEN KANE. MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS. TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN. DAVID COPPERFIELD. TREASURE ISLAND. THE KID. ORPHANS. POPPY. MISTAKEN IDENTITY. LIGHT IN THE HALLWAY. ROSES OF DAWNING OVER THE SHOULDER. POE. POE. NOT EVEN DARKNESS. NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK. AND THERE IS NO TIME, NO TIME. NO. WITH THE CAT HOWLING TO BE LET IN. NO NEED TO WRITE. ONLY THIS WHAT I'M TELLING YOU. TELLING MYSELF. THERE IS A BEGINNING TO ALL THIS. AN OCCASION. SCOTTISH BAGPIPES ARE ITS EQUIVALENT, BUT IT BEAMS DOWN IN SPECKLED LIGHTS. SPOKEN LIGHTS. I WOULDN'T SAY. GOAT LIGHT. SAWDUST. WINDMILL. GATHERING. OR SILENCE OF TEARS, LIKE RAIN ON THE HILL STREET, HOVERING OVER THE GREEN GRASS, SILENCE OF NEIGHBORS, SILENCE OF BEETHOVEN. CHARLIE'S SALOON. PASTRAMI, CORNED BEEF, ROOTBEER AND A PICKLE. FRENCH FRIES. MOM AND DAD. SISTER. NIGHT OUT. THE STRANGE SUNRISE, OR WAS IT SUNSET, COVERED OVER THE TEAR OF THE EYES OF THE CHILD. ONE EVENING IN A DECADE. IN THE TRAFFIC TRUCKED OUT OVER THE MOMENT. OVER THE BRIDGE AND THE TRAFFIC AND THE WEATHER OF THE MOMENT. WHERE THE SHADOWS GRIND INTO A COLOR THAT ONLY YOU AND GOD SEE, OR ONLY YOU SEE, BUT IF GOD SEES IT, OR IT IS LIKE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SEE, THEN IT IS AS IF IT WERE RECORDED IN A CALENDAR, BROADCAST, TRANSCRIPT OR PERPETUAL TRIBUNE IN THE STADIUM OF EXISTENCE.WOULD FRAME A GATHERING. NOT JUST THE LIGHTNESS OF STEP IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, NEARER THE EQUATOR. ABSENCE OF SHADOW. THE OLD STORY. COME TO TOO LATE, OR JUST ON TIME. SUN LIKE A NEWSPAPER, TURNING THE LEAF OF DAY. A SPOT OF WALL, IN THE NORTH. CHARITY OF STRANGERS, FRIENDS OF FATHER'S. VOLUMES ON THE SHELF. SHADOW VARNISHING AN ORANGE WALL. BREAST FULL OF SHADOWS. SLICING MEMORIES. DISTENSIONS. A LAMP'S WORTH OF PUNISHED. THE LAMP'S WORD.IT IS THE SEA'S HIGH POSTING OF NUMBERS OVER THE CRITIQUED CONTEST OF THE IDENTITY, WHERE THE SHADOW OF SHADOWS GATHERS. WHERE THE PINES ARE EQUIVALENT TO ARRIVAL, OR WHAT IS TOLD IN SUNLIGHT FALLS, WHERE IT IS SPOKEN, TO BE TOLD AGAIN OR FOLD INTO MEMORY. GRETEL ON THE DOORSTEP. THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE. THE OTHER REALITY ENTERED BY MIRRORS. SHE ENTERED THE ROOM. THE WORLD TURNS. NUMBERS ARE POSTED OVER THE OCEAN.ANGELS KNEW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. RELATIVES TELL IT AND IT HAPPENS AGAIN. NOT ONLY THAT IT UNFOLDED IN CHRIST'S ARMS LIKE A CRADLE. NO BUT THAT IT IS MARKED IN FORETELLING LIKE A NEWSPAPER. WINDY RADIO RAIN. ECHOES LIKE DREAMS, THINGS THEY ARE TELLING, TRYING TO RETURN TO. HOUSE OUT OVER THE OCEAN. FRIEND OF DAUGHTER, DAUGHTER OF FRIEND. SAME AGE IN CHILDHOOD. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN NO ONE IS AROUND. QUIZ YOU TO TELL ME. MIND NOT TO SPEAK. CROSSWORD PUZZLE'S. UNCLE'S ROOM. WHERE THEY KEPT THE MAGAZINES. THE COOL TABLE WHERE HE KEPT HIS TRAY. THE LONG VOLUMES OF BREEZE IN HIS ROOM'S KEEPING.BUT TO HAVE A FRAME, LIKE GEORGE WASHINGTON, OR LEONARD LEON. NOT BAD A DAD'S FRIEND'S VISIT. PUT THIS ON A FOOTING. TABLE SEMBLANCE. GRANDFATHERLY RESEMBLANCE. PHONING THE PICTURE. STEPS OF GREEN ICE. TUMBLERS OF MARBLE. CRESCENTS OF GLASS. MILK OF MOONLIGHT. AFTER THE SLEEPING. OUT WITH THE STARS. LOOSE FROM THE PAINTING. THE HOUR AND ANGUISH OF SLEEPING. RESENTFUL OF THE LEFT OVER. IMAGINING THE SILENT. THE UNMANNED WATERING BUCKET. A NEED FOR WHAT ISN'T WATCHED OVER. A REQUEST THE SILENCE FULFILLS.BACK IN THE CITY THE DAY TURNED LIKE A CALENDAR, PEOPLE STARING IN GROUPS, TURNING, STARTING UP THE STAIRS, TIME OF DAY, WATCHED OVER LIKE A HAWK, OR NOT WATCHED, DRIFTING, SIFTING LIFTING INTO THE NOT EVEN NOTICED, NOTHING TO WATCH. DIDN'T LIKE THAT LAST. A WOMAN WAITING BY THE WINDOW, EACH AND LAST. AND THE MUSIC OF HER WAITING EACH MINUTE OF THE YEAR. THE WAY IT HAPPENED BEFORE, CARVED ON THE EMBLEM INSIDE OF HER WAITING. BIRDS SLEEPING IN HER SILENCE. ROTARY POSITION OF HER CONSIDERATION. AFTER THE FACT. HOW THIS STARTED. ITS ANTITHESIS. THE LOCK ON THE WALL. THE GUEST ROOM. THE DEN WITH THE SOFA BED. THE DRAWER WITH THE LOVE LETTERS. THE COMMEMORATIVE MATCHES. THE TELEVISION LISTINGS, THOSE SCANNED AND THOSE NOT SCANNED. THOSE SCANNED STABLE IN THE AIR LIKE RAIN ON THE STREET. THE HIDDEN LISTENINGS OF THE CHOCOLATE BOXES. THE USED AND USED AND USED PULLOVERS. THE TIME BEFORE, WHEN THE LAST GUEST. THE LITTLE TOWELS LIKE HOTEL'S. BETTER SOAP THAN AT HOME. MARBLE TILES THAT SECRETS HANDED OVER. NAKED FRIENDS. DRESSED WHEN YOU SEE THEM. LAUGHING AND SCRUBBING. REFLECTED IN RINSE WATER AND BUBBLES. TIME'S REFLECTION. DRACULA AT THE HOTEL. SCARED TO WALK IN THE HALL. TEAR THINGS UP, KNOCK THINGS OVER. PUT THINGS BACK IN THEIR PLACE. UNMARKED BUT TOUCHED. LIKE THE NOSE IS BY SMELL. IGNITED IN MOONLIGHT. THE STREET'S SECRET. THE CITY FLOWING OVER THE SLEEPING, OVER THE WAKING. PARTICULARS OF PRINT. SINCE THE 1930S. NOT JUST TO BE SEPARATE IN THE NIGHT. THE NIGHT A SEPARATE CITY FROM HISTORY. THE NIGHT A SEPARATE CITY. THE SEPARATE NIGHT. THE NIGHT A SEPARATE CITY FROM THE NIGHT. NO TELLING WHY HER SECRETARY. GO ON AND ON AND ON AND TELLING. FLOWERS WHAT DONE BEFORE. TO REMEMBER. AS IF REMEMBERED. TELLING AND TELLING FLOWERS AND FLOWERS. WHAT HER VOICE SPOKE. THE SILENCE AFTER. AFTER THE TELLING. THE SILENCE OF NEVER BEFORE. SLEEPING AND WAKING BELONGING TO THE SILENCE. SCENARIOS ALL WORKED OUT. PERFECT BRUSHSTROKE TO THE TELLING. GOOD AS BEFORE. TO BE DISCOVERED AGAIN. A GIRL I DREAMED OF. DEAD AND PAST. WAS IT THE VISIT TO THE AUTHOR'S HOUSE? WHY DID THE BROOKS WIND LIKE CLOCKWORK, FILLING HER TALK?SPROUTING UP PAST THE LAWN. FRIENDLY ENOUGH FOR A VISIT. TIRED OF WALKING. A CERTAIN WAY OF TALKING. GROWING IN THE LIGHT. SNUFFLES OF LAUGHTER. SMILES DRIPPING SILENCE. A RIGID GATHERING OF INARTICULABLE ASSENT. UNHESITATING ANNOUNCEMENT. A VEIL OF WAITING, EARLY ON THE FLOWERS. THE SHIPS POURING IN WHILE IT IS STILL MORNING. GOING TO SEE THE QUEEN. THE PEOPLE STOPPING. RAIN STARTLING THE IMAGINATION. SENSE OF THE FAMILIAR. WAYS OF TREES AROUND THE HOURS. PROMISES OF THE CONTROL TOWER. THE UNIFORM'S FLOWING FLAGS. THE BUGLE OF HISTORY, BLOWING AGAIN. ATTITUDES REFLECTED LIKE CHARCOAL IN THE ETHER. A WINNOWING DOWN OF WILLINGNESS. A PERIODIC PROPOSAL. DOWN WITH THE BILLBOARDS. TOLD YOU I DIDN'T. NEWS FOR DEAD SOLDIERS. WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD OF. TIME TO REVISIT WHAT WAS SEEN ONCE. WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER. ROASTED CHESTNUTS. THE TRAIL OF THE PARTICULAR. THIS TIME LAST YEAR. PILES AND PILES OF CARS TO THE SUN. THE STRANDED BEACH. AND THE YEAR AT THE EDGE OF THE HEAVENS. THE SEPARABLE MOMENT OF CHRIST.OUTLINES OF WORDS LIKE ROCK. THE POET'S HOUSE. THE PERIODIC BREATH. THE STRANGER VISITING. VICTORIA IN VICTORIA IN VICTORIA IN VICTORIA.PEANUT BUTTER. ARRIVAL OF HORSES. THE FRACTURED MOMENT. TURNING AND NEIGHING. FLOWERS AND MANURE. A STIFF SMELL OF LEATHER AND HORSES, WOODCHIPS AND DEW. THE PLEDGE OF THE FOUNTAIN. THE INALIENABLE SCENE. BRASS MEMORIES BEFORE THEY HAPPEN. THE LONG CALL OF THE PREDICTABLE. THE INTIMATE HUMILITY OF THE SINGULAR. EUPHORIA AT NOT BEING NOTICED, AT WHAT IS MISSED. THOSE HERE BEFORE YOU, WHAT CAME BEORE THEM. A DRAWING OUT OF INFERENCES, POSITIONING OF DEALS. THE MADE UP CONCLUSIONS IN THE STAGED APPOINTMENTS. THE NEVER TOLD. PARTERS REUNITED. THE LONG CLOSURE OF COMMITMENTS. THE BRIEF MARKET OF PROPOSALS. THE AWAKENING INTEREST IN THE OBSOLETE. EXTENDED ACCOMODATIONS FOR THE RESURRECTED. A COMMON CIVILITY FOR THE RECOGNIZED AND ATTENDED. REWARDS FOR IMITATION. MEMBERSHIP TO THE SUFFICIENTLY REGARDED. NO NEED TO INDEX THE PIOUSLY SUGGESTED. A RAIN OF MAGNOLIAS, BLOWN CHERRY BLOSSOMS. THE INFERENCE OF THE STATIC. RITUALS OF RETENTION. OFFICES OF RETREAT. OBJECTS OF HESITATION. FORMS WHICH REPEAT, ECHO ONE ANOTHER IN RECOGNITION. HOLY IMAGES OF UNBORN SPEECH. GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE BURIED IN RAIN. THE FIRST TELLING. THE FIRST WORD. SHAPED LIKE AN EAGLE. STILL IN ITS FOOTING. MOUNTAINS OF WHITENESS. OVER THE MOUNTAINS. INTO THE PARLOR. STILL ON THE SHELF. TALK WON'T UPSET IT. RAISE IT, EVOKE IT, JUST FOR A MOMENT. ENOUGH THAT WHAT IS IT PROCLAIM ITS SMALL KINGDOM, IN LIEU OF THE REST. AT LAST THE GRIM TEMPLE, OF TELLING AND DARKNESS. THE SHROUD OF THE HANDS. THE SHADOW OF THE VOICE. THE CLOSED OFF WORLD, BEYOND THE ROOM. THE ICY STILLNESS OF THE REVISIT. WORDS THAT WILL DIE ALONE HERE. FEELINGS TO PUT AWAY WITH FRIENDS. THE GRAPPLE AND GRAVEL OF PEAT AND STRAIT. THE WARM CEMENT IN THE COOL WIND. DECLARATIONS TO LIVE BY. A BETTER FEELING. THE WORLD TO VISIT, TO SEE AGAIN. IN ALL ITS GLORY, SAME AS EVER. THE PERFECT DEPARTURE OF THE NEW BORNBUT TO BEGIN WITH ENTERTAINMENT. THE MYSTERY OF THE CLOSED DRAWERS. THE PAINTINGS AND THE MARBLE FIGURES DIVIDING UP THE MINUTES, THE HALL OF MIRRORS. THE COOK'S WORDS. THE ARRIVAL OF THE GARDENER. THOUSANDS OF MINUTES SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE MAGNOLIA BLOSSOMS. THE CHAIN OF REFLECTIONS. THE WISTFUL WHAT IS IT WHISPERING ON THE EDGE OF LACK OF INTEREST. THE MOTIF TELLING AGAIN WHAT IT IS TELLING, HAS BEEN TELLING. PERMISSION FOR THE PRESENT TO BE FAMILIAR. AT LAST NO DIFFERENCE. SENSATION AND IDEAS ONE. STEPPING INTO ROLES IN THE IMAGINATION, IN THE DEMONSTRABLE INHERITANCE. NOT TO REMEMBER. TOO COOL, TOO ORIGINAL FOR TELLING. PERFECT FOR KNOWING. ENTIRELY INCIPIENT. NAME LIKE A CHAIN. A RING OF BLUEBELLS AND POSIES. BLESSING THE CRONE'S REFRAIN. AND TIRED IN IT, EATEN BY THE WORLD, AND BY THE DARKNESS SWIMMING BENEATH IT, DARKNESS OF OLD MUSEUMS, IMITATIONS OF REPRODUCTIVE THOUGHTS IN ISOLATION. THE LANGUAGE FOR IT IS IDLE BUT SPECIFIC, REDUCED TO CALLINGS FORTH OF SELECTIVE LORE AND IMPEDING OUTLINES. THE SMELL AND THE DARK OUTLINE REVISIT RAIN AS RECENTLY IT'S MAPPED IN A SIDELONG REVERENCE FOR THE CITIES IN SHIELD'S CREASES. LIVES MORE NOW IT IS NO MORE. ALSO NO IMITATION THOUGH REPEATED IN CONVERSATION FLOCKS THROUGHOUT THE HALLWAY (AND THE FAR ALARM HAILS STILL FROM THE TOWER) WHERE IN ANOTHER YEAR WE MET AGAIN. I DID NOT VISIT YOU TO SEE ANOTHER, BUT CAME BECAUSE I WAS HERE. I LEAVE YOU AS I FIND YOU. HAYSTACKS AND WINDMILLS. BARRELS AND ASH. NO PROVOCATION SERVICES THIS. IN THE TOWN PRICES ARE WORDS, NUMBERS CLIMBING IN THE POCKET. AVAILABLE COLORS FOR AGREEING WITH FLAGS AND THE CHARACTER OF A MOMENT. CHEAP MAGAZINES. STOLEN KNICK KNACKS. NEWSPAPER UNDER THINGS. DISMAY OF ORDER. CLOUDS COWS MOTORING BEHIND THE ACTION, IN THE PRESENT OF DAY, FILLED WITH REJOINDERS, PENCILS OF PAPER, WHAT YOU WANTED IT TO BE, TOO LATE TO FIND YOU. NOT WHAT IT IS ABOUT, BUT HOW IT GOT THERE, REASON TO TALK ABOUT IT, STAGE OF ADVANCEMENT, GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR MEMORIES CAST OVER THE NORTH OF TOWN. WELCOME PROGRESS. THAT I CAN FIND YOU AT THE END OF ALL THIS. COURAGEOUS TO FACE IT. FAMILIAR WITH THE TERRAIN. I TELL IT AS IF IT WERE HAPPENING, WHERE IT HAPPENS ONCE ONLY, IN ANY DREAM OF BEING LOST IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY WHICH LOOKS FAMILIAR. THE DEAD ARE WITH YOU. BRINGING NO SUITS. THIS HOLY SANCTIFIED GROUND BLESSED THEY WERE BE HERE, NO CARDINAL POINT. DEVICE STAMPED GIVE ANOTHER CENTURY OR TWO TO REACH ITS EMISSARY. SIMPLE DEVOTION IS THE CITY BUILDER. WELD THE NIGHT INTO ITS SISTER ICON. AND LAST SHE OF THE ROYAL BLOOD, UNWATCHED, NEAR THE LETTER DESK. THERE IS NO WAY OF REVERSING HER PLEA TO THE REALITY OF THE NEWSPAPER. HER WORDS FLOWER IN PRINT AT BREAKFAST, BEFORE THE MAIDSERVANTS SEE THE PAPER, WHICH WAS PRINTED IN LIME. ALL KINDS OF BELLS WRING OUTSIDE THE THINKING WALKWAY WHERE HIS WORDS END IN A PIER. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE WERE HERE BEFORE. IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IF GUARDIAN BANNERS KEEP MILITARY HOURS IN THE LONG VIEW OF MEN ALONG THE TOWERS, WHERE WORDS DIE LIKE PRODUCTS HEARING THEIR ADVERTISING. REMOVE THE COBWEBS. WHITE MARBLE, WHERE NIGHT'S DISCONNECTED. GOING HOME TOGETHER. SCREAMING AND YELLING. THE RUSSIAN TEA ROOM. CAVIAR AND CHAMPAGNE. WHITEFISH AND SALMON. SHRIMP COCKTAIL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DRINKING. POINT IS IN ANOTHER MOMENT, LOSING MY SISTER. MUCH GRAYER FALLS, BANISHED IMAGINATION. A LOW FRAME OF INFERENCES. MESSAGES BY RADIATOR.RENTED A SCHOOL BUS FOR ME AND MY FRIENDS. WE MET IN THE SCHOOLYARD WITH OTHERS ARRIVING. TWO YEARS IN A ROW WE RETURNED TO CRANE'S BEACH.AND ONCE ON A BUS DEPARTED INTO GRAVE IMAGININGS OF DOORS AT ENDS OF LANES BEHIND WHICH LAY MY UNKNOWN LADY LOVE. ALL OF NEW ENGLAND MAY HAVE POSSESSED HER.CHIEFLY THE TITS OF WIVES WHO ARE IGNORED THROUGHOUT THE TIME OF YEAR. A SECRET WORLD UNFOLDS IN THE MEMORY OF WHAT CAN BE. GHOSTS MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HAUNT YOU. THIS MOVIE PORTRAYS THEIR PLIGHT IN A MEDIUM OF LETTERS AS IT WERE IN ACCORD WITH THE CLASSICAL STRICTURES OF THE DAY. THE IMPERIUM OF THE INTELLIGENTISTIC CROP. MR. HAGUE STAYED FAR AWAY IN PROVIDENCE. THE RETURN OF THE ORPHAN STUNS THE DRAMATIC CRUX, SHIFTING THE QUEEN, AND PEPPERING THE YALE REVIEW. NO PEACE IN SUMMER IN THE MARION MANSION. ALONE ON THE BEACH AT NIGHT. THE DYING OF THE OCEAN. TRICKS OF STARS. THAT IT SHOULD STAND ALONE, EXEMPLAR OF SIGNIFICANCE, AS RAINY AS RAIN, AS WINDY AS WIND, THESE CRISP CERTIFICATES OF A TIME AND PLACE. FORCED BY SMALL FRAMES INTO CONFUSIONS OF PROSE, COLOURED, REFRACTIVE, ALIVE TO SUCH TIMES AS 1945 OR 1943. MUCH NOT UNDERSTOOD AT THE TIME. FOR LYRIC JOLTS IMAGINE MY HEART SEPARATED FROM THE STARS, THE ICY STRINGS OF MY BEST WISHES SHOCKED IN DESIRE AS I KNEW THEY WOULD BE THEN THE STARS FELL. I WAS SERVED A NAPKIN IN A RIBBON. ATTACK IN SNOW. CUISSARS SHAKE SWORDS IN INK. SHIPS DEBARK. THE FOGHORN BY THE RIVER IS NOT INCOME. BUT THE MOVIES ARE PLAYING AGAIN AND I WANT TO SEE ONE.TO BE LET LOOSE UPON THE DARKENED PLANESWHERE YEAR IS A FIRST BREATH AND UTTERANCECALLED BY THE FOREST WHERE NOTHING IS IN PRINTRADIO SIGNALS GENTLEMEN MAP OUR PROGRESSAND NOT AN INELUCTABLE LINETHROUGH THE DEVASTATED PICNICSOF OUR OWN NATIONAL TREASURETHE LAND OF OUR FATHERS.NOW I AM CLOSING THE BOOKSTORE, GEPETTO'S SHOP, THE LITTLE VIEW ON A CHILD'S TRICKS, PLEASURE FOR THE SKINNING, A GLIMPSE OF HER IN THE WHITE BAKERY, GRANDFATHER TOLD ME SO, ON HIS KNEE, ON HIS WHITE LEATHER ARM CHAIR, SMOKING CIGARS AND WATCHING ZORRO FROM 45 FEET.THE CARDS ARE PLAYED. THE DIVINER MUSIC THUNDERS THROUGH THE PRAYING HOUSE. SISTERS ARE TWO AUNTS. BROTHER UNMARRIED. ONE WITH HER SERVANTS. AN EXCEPTIONAL ARTIST. SILENCE IN THE KITCHEN. QUICK WITH HER WITS. CONVERSANT WITH WITCHES. I AM NOT ROBERT LOWELL. I HOWEVER GOT AROUND NEW ENGLAND.CHAPLIN WHO WINS THE GIRL AND LAUREL AND HARDY WHO BRING EACH OTHER THE DEAREST AFFECTION. INTERMINABLY WROUGHT OUT ON A COLD NIGHT. TURNING TO EACH OTHER FOR LUCK AND SPIRITS. IN THE END ALL THEY GOT. BUT WHAT CONFIDENCE THEY INSTILL IN EACH OTHER! LAYING SIEGE TO RECKLESS MAYHEM. ABBOTT AND COSTELLO LIVE WHERE SIMPLE CONNECTIONS ALLOW THE MOST BASIC LIFE TO FLOURISH. SIMPLE ATTITUDES OF COMEDY ARE ENDEARING IN A STRAIGHT FACE IN UNLIKELY SITUATIONS. THESE ARE NOT ALL THE NIGHTS WE STOOD TALKING OUTSIDE THE GARDEN IN THE CHURCH YARD. THEN I PLANTED ALL MY IDEAS IN YOUR HEAD AND YOU CAPITULATED UNDER THE STARS.HER SHAPE IS MAGNIFIED BY THE WINDOW. HER SHADE TRAVELS THE MINUTES WITH A CIVIC MELANCHOLY. SHE IS DEFINITELY ELECTRIC IN THE PAUSES OF HER ATTENTION TO HER NEW SURROUNDINGS, MADE CONSTANTLY NEW BY HIS ABSENCE. SHE WAS NOT WRITING AGAIN HOW SHE FELT WHILE HE WAS ANSWERING HER LETTERS AS THOUGH UNCONCERNED BY THE BREADTH OF HER REPLIES. IT WAS AN ADMIXTURE OF INDIFFERENCE AND FAITHLESS HOPE. OUR AGE ANSWERS NOTHING TO IT. THERE ARE UNCITED HEROES.Ben Mazer's two new books of poems are Poems (The Pen & Anvil Press, 2010) and January 2008 (Dark Sky Books, 2010). He is the editor of Landis Everson's Everything Preserved: Poems 1955-2005 (Graywolf Press, 2006) and Selected Poems of Frederick Goddard Tuckerman (Harvard University Press, 2010). He lives in Cambridge, Mass., where he is a contributing editor to Fulcrum: an Annual of Poetry and Aesthetics.EVEN AS WE SPEAK appears in Poems (Pen & Anvil).