Red Leaf
2
University of Northern Iowa Red Leaf Author(s): Michael Burkard Source: The North American Review, Vol. 273, No. 3 (Sep., 1988), p. 43 Published by: University of Northern Iowa Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25124991 . Accessed: 17/06/2014 22:46 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 188.72.126.198 on Tue, 17 Jun 2014 22:46:10 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
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Transcript of Red Leaf
University of Northern Iowa
Red LeafAuthor(s): Michael BurkardSource: The North American Review, Vol. 273, No. 3 (Sep., 1988), p. 43Published by: University of Northern IowaStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25124991 .
Accessed: 17/06/2014 22:46
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 188.72.126.198 on Tue, 17 Jun 2014 22:46:10 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
N A R
A Poetry
Emphasis
RED LEAF Michael Burkard
You have come to the end and there is a red leaf?it is staring across the chasm where your friend is dreaming?before the two of you,
your friend and you, your alias and your bridge, fell into poison.
A sunset is a neck.
A rain is falling outside no one.
Upon god's mother there was a spider
but Helen killed it.
And she is not your memory nor her own.
And the dream is as ill as someone else.
And no one in the world now seems as alone as your friend.
And the world is hard on your friend when your friend is feeling alone.
You have come to the end and there is a red leaf?it is the one
your friend blew from a palm in laughter, laughter about the mission of god, and the leaf
fell but you took it. But you took it and placed it away. And tonight you have found it?by accident?in your book.
A book you stole.
A book you will never return.
A book belonging to those you called your tormentors
on a small day in a small spring when it was hot then cold. And no one knew
what was coming next.
The red leaf is beautiful.
Intact. Intact red.
Your belief in it is as important as your belief in your friend.
For that reason alone you hold it to your heart, and to your head.
Poison seems more invisible than death. No.
No.
You have come to the end and there is this red leaf?it is the one
you press to your heart as if it could be the world.
r 1988
This content downloaded from 188.72.126.198 on Tue, 17 Jun 2014 22:46:10 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
