Cleaving River Phoenix

My Own Private Idaho

“A poet learns almost
everything from his
own verse”
—George Oppen,
Selected Prose,
Daybook, Papers

what does—the vase say
the one there—in tennessee
surrounded—by woods & streams
how does it—do its trick
that thing—words can’t do
and that—red wheelbarrow
sitting there—in backyard rain
why is it—so fucking important
no wheelbarrow—should be that way
hogging up—all the attention
time to cleave it—my own idaho
time to ditch the vase—and wheelbarrow
goodbye miss stevens—goodbye wcw
time for—weltschmerz drag
time for—my own personal idaho