Alice Notley

1945 / Arizona / United States

Logic

It was a poem
men took because it said ovary

didn't take my
political poems
they took the one that said ovary

Are you sure it was because it
said ovary?

Yes, for them that's logical.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Destroy another
city
What
else
is war for? So

you'll go down
each of you does. dies in
whirlwind

each of you who does, dies
paying
for the pain you experience
Just that
and nothing is established

Because I am a woman
Cutting as many cords
as tie you to me. this isn't
anarchy
it isn't anything you
could name

You're still here
without ties?

because they were logical.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dance little asshole dance
oh he gets elected, like a Calvinist
He says, I have these guts
Men, I have these guts.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Having dedicated whole
regions to the destruction
you inspire, the
logic will be to go on doing it
doing it. Having proceeded by

the logic
of your per-
sonal vaccuum
you will perceive your continued
lightlessness
as an excuse to go on. having
gone on
as you have. And so one continues.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Lead the boy out of
the building on fire
his head twisted
upwards
all fucked

What else is there to
know if
one has gotten
twisted up
all fucked

he is a screaming fire

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

In the explanations
of our lives' experience

they've left out this wild moment
the long mirror on the right-hand wall of the
corridor suddenly shattered
I can't see myself anymore.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I repeat that I am not frightened
and why not
I don't know
what my reactions
are supposed to be.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Please tell me something
with which I'm familiar."

isn't there another part of now
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