Kazim Ali

Source

In the brain, a silver window
Where the sky evaporates—


Then condenses to an enveloped name
Sealed with an unsigned letter.


Dickinson’s house: a breeze coming from the inside
Sounds bury themselves deep in the wood-work.


When a Scholar pauses by a closed door
She may not be listening to music, but to the door


What lingers in the letter, loosening or found
Sky-name—wood-wind—syllable—sound

Kazim Ali
Source appears in The Far Mosque (Alice James Books, 2005).

Poem, copyright © 2005 by Kazim Ali
Appearing on From the Fishouse with permission
Audio file, copyright © 2005, From the Fishouse

Posted on July 14, 2005 7:12 AM