Joseph A. W. Quintela

birds fly across my window : accomplishing in seven strokes of wing that attempted by the stare of words since fledgling words first learned to stare : see them : gathered in a tenacious ring : statues on the plaza of this manicured compulsion : 

: the ante of definition : and this quaint show of brinkmanship : wordless As the flight of birds. motionless in time As 

the moon climbs into my room : you who stole my innocence : then scaled into the night : king and thief and king and thief and dry heaves in the crater of a porcelain cup : and so we brew the witch’s tea and cast our teeth into the guttural scene : 

: the ante of definition : and this quaint show of brinkmanship : wordless As the flight of birds. motionless in time As the moon climbs. the history of grief  

An empty doorway is a gala invitation : and a maple leaf : the crimson carpet spread beneath my feet : picture me : no : I mean it : take my picture : in a thousand shudders : and toss the words into the compost : to rot among the lesser leaves : 

The italicized parts of the are taken from "Ars Poetica" by Archibald McLeish