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V

30 March
            at night
            a storm

                      "besides this abominable weather
                      who is there?"

             Herman takes surveying lessons
                       at Lansingburgh

                      "but who is with him?"

             Gansevoort plunges further
              into nervous breakdown

and beneath a three-fold sky
             ornate with landscapes
Hercules advances through the Garden of the Hesperides
              takes possession of the golden apples
                       and kills
                       the dragon with 100 heads
                       & 100 hisses

I have built
           a city of sand
                       of marble
                       of water
                       at the mouth of the river

           but the sea will remain beyond your sight
           because it
                        spreads far
                        behind each fresco
                                    each painted marble
                                    each painted barque
                                    each painted tree

            "give me your hand"

                         you do not see its waters
                         but you can
                                                         hear its whisper
                                                         at night

after the storm
             presaging the destruction of Carthage
                              the eruption of Vesuvius
                              the earthquake at Lisbon
                              the fire at Harper's warehouse

            PRAETEREA MARE IN SE RESORBERI VIDEBAMUS

on the back wall
there remains
                           a basket of figs
                           a pink glass bowl
                                containing oranges
             a bow and a quiver
                                & a Nereid
                                riding a sea monster

              at this time
              in the ruins of my house
                                              without penates
                                              without lares
                                              without manes

I see the brambles
                the weeds
                the scarab beetles
                            invading the garden paintings
                            on the walls of the viridaria

                I watch the sea retire within itself

                and near the harbour jetty
                             a thread of purple drifting
                             just below the surface

                            MNESTHEI BERRYLLOS