THE DOCTRINE OF ENGLISH VERBS
The doctrine of English verbs tells a sad science,
a lyrical experiment in being gone.
Sing, sang, sung — doing it, did it
and now it’s done. But what’s to come?
I will sing. Sure. We hear that will,
future marker, and know it means I want
and we know how it is with wanting,
getting what I want. Even when my will
is bent to my desire like a man
breaking his back rowing his dull boat,
all his strength, and can’t see, can’t see
where he’s going, we row backwards
into the dark. The doctrine
of English verbs will break your heart.
From LAPIS, by Robert Kelly. Copyright (c) 2005 by Robert Kelly. Reprinted by permission of Black Sparrow Books, an imprint of David R. Godine, Publisher, Boston.
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