Inventions of the Dead
3
University of Northern Iowa Inventions of the Dead Author(s): Michael Burkard Source: The North American Review, Vol. 257, No. 4 (Winter, 1972), pp. 28-29 Published by: University of Northern Iowa Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25117391 . Accessed: 12/06/2014 19:48 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. . University of Northern Iowa is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The North American Review. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 185.2.32.141 on Thu, 12 Jun 2014 19:48:22 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
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Transcript of Inventions of the Dead
University of Northern Iowa
Inventions of the DeadAuthor(s): Michael BurkardSource: The North American Review, Vol. 257, No. 4 (Winter, 1972), pp. 28-29Published by: University of Northern IowaStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25117391 .
Accessed: 12/06/2014 19:48
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp
.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].
.
University of Northern Iowa is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The NorthAmerican Review.
http://www.jstor.org
This content downloaded from 185.2.32.141 on Thu, 12 Jun 2014 19:48:22 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
MICHAEL BURKARD
INVENTIONS
OF THE DEAD
An older woman
describing sleeves
during a black rain
"He hung (even the roads
came to see him hung),
as if buried between two hands.
The roads were, the torches
were . . . indifferent. His arms,
well one arm was hugging his other arm. They were like
rugs. Even though his sleeves
were dark, he said his arms
included escape. His sleeves
were then two arms
that would explode. I imagine he thought the rooms
were bleeding, the light
was kneeling ..."
/winter 1972
This content downloaded from 185.2.32.141 on Thu, 12 Jun 2014 19:48:22 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
MICHAEL BURKARD
2
Back, where I lost
the forgetting, or when the soaked nets
are all hung
I wake the branches. Even tonight
they lift the mirror from
my hands,
they lift the shoes
from my throat.
They return from the window.
3
Handing the dead
back to the house, saying
House, I'm tired
of the dead. You take them.
Please them in your rooms.
Take them-the milked,
the forgotten. Give
them lamps (they will
always be asking for lamps),
give them skins. A window
when they ask for a door.
Feed them branches.
Please them with some moon.
THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW/WINTER 1972 29
This content downloaded from 185.2.32.141 on Thu, 12 Jun 2014 19:48:22 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
