second poem for class

THE VIOLET TOWER

Upon the roof, a nameless man builds flowers

to sell for cheap on Thirteenth and ‘P’ in winter.

He chews the stems for food, and for his tower.

The weakness of the sun needs his attention;

it raises shadows from his flint and tinder.

Upon the roof, the nameless man builds flowers,

which act upon the grass as ink to paper.

(A stupid-long way to write letters.)

He chews the stems for food, and for his tower.

I wonder where his wooden wife is-

I’m sure he works like this for something-

Upon the roof, a nameless man builds flowers.

The history of light is pulverized 

& yellow-soft as pollen on the tongue.

Upon the roof, a nameless man builds flowers.

To use the stems for food, and for his tower.