Introduction

Perhaps we may say that every poem has its “20th of January” inscribed? Perhaps what’s new for a poem written today is just this: that here the attempt is clearest to remain mindful of such dates? But don’t we all date from such dates? And what dates do we ascribe ourselves to?

Paul Celan, “Meridian.” Translated by John Flestiner.

I have been writing a poem a day. The poems reflect the events of the time--the date itself is written into their structure. I will post several in groups to catch up with the current date, and then each day I will post the day's poem.

Here are the first two for January first and second

*
Discord
into chords:
harmony unlikely
this
civil year. You can
pass through a door
in either direction.

(snow)

(silence)


*
The first day
after the
(arbitrary)
first day.
Snow lines upper branches.
Sky cover blue.
So
cold.

Mockery

spur resistance