The Fifth Death of Saul Bellow

The Fifth Death of Saul Bellow

I wishing to die (in America-
A warm rain, wet, melancholy,
Satisfaction, completion-
Full,) circular breasts in my bed,
Pink tea kettle nipples.
Upright, upstanding, lifted, & surging with life he bursts into mornings
Of sepulchral dream;
He, wanting nothing but -
-My hands are always those of my father’s
-Paws, darlin’, and you are on a ship
-No, see, well, mhhh, ha!
-See that’s why the water is never water
-Read me and watch the world collapse
-I can’t but you know I used to paint?
-I enjoy drinking coffee with you next Friday
-I thought I saw you once but I think it was just a…never mind
(the death of Saul Bellow and all his damned books)
Let me show you what you’ve never seen before-
Pink
Tea
Kettle
Nipples, read fine parchment
Covered in lovely fire tongues- archaic saliva read by Americans as
novelty.
I’ll burn you if you tuck me in by the roots of your dreams.