The Way Things Work
I like to wander and explore the cities I live in. When I lived in Rome, I loved wandering around and exploring. One of my favorite bookstores, The Lion Bookshop off of Via del Babuino, was near one of my favorite streets, Via Margutta, and not too far from Via Brunetti. On beautiful spring days I would walk from my apartment all the way to the Spanish Steps and down Via del Babuino. I would browse for hours at the bookstore since it was one of the few English-language shops in the city -- but more often to visit a book of poetry edited by Helen Vendler. At the equivalent of $30 US dollars for the paperback collection, it was just too pricey for me until one day -- did I get another private English language student, did I withdraw some extra money through my credit card, or some other unexpected influx of cash that I cannot recall came about and I bought the book. Sadly, I longer have it with me (it got lost in one of my back-and-forth moves to the US I am guessing.) But what I do recall is that it introduced me to Jorie Graham, an American poet raised in Rome. Her early work is infused with Italy and I wanted to share a poem that, unfortunately, like the book is lost to me now. But I will share with you her lovely poem, "The Way Things Work" and leave you to discover on your own "San Sepolcro" and "At Luca Signorelli's Resurrection of the Body."
The Way Things Work
is by admitting
or opening away.
This is the simplest form
of current: Blue
moving through blue;
blue through purple;
the objects of desire
opening upon themselves
without us; the objects of faith.
The way things work
is by solution,
resistance lessened or
increased and taken
advantage of.
The way things work
is that we finally believe
they are there,
common and able
o illustrate themselves.
Wheel, kinetic flow,
rising and falling water,
ingots, levers and keys,
I believe in you,
cylinder lock, pully,
lifting tackle and
crane lift your small head--
I believe in you--
your head is the horizon to
my hand. I believe
forever in the hooks.
The way things work
is that eventually
something catches.
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