MICHAEL MARCH

President of the
Prague Writers’ Festival

Professor of Poetry at
New York University in Prague

Half Pint's Goddess

Half Pint met the slum goddess of the lower East Side. Her tattoo read:"Opulent poverty, regal indigence.Live in it calmly—be at peace." It recalled Osip Mandelstam—before he was taken away.

 

„Only a promise"

You fell
through  yourself
what  was known
the war flickered
in the evening sky
Her  hand  was warm
what were her words
not for us
not for  us 



 

Xenophon

you  cried
under  the covers
the white ridge
the thinning  air
Xenophon
lost  forever
that winter
against the  snow  

Soutine

Our flesh
remains
unsweetened
our  souls
depressed
coins

not
the  wish
to live
forever
but
to  live
beyond
Soutine
 
















           


  When she danced
  Pain was not weakness

  Light became my bride
  Dust the song of hours

  When she danced
  Just this time