Peter Douglas
V3:E3 March 2001

RODIN'S STARE

In the museum garden,
Rodin figures, muscles rolling through
their skin, stand as though caught
by the fragrant grasses,
and cornered, unable to decide which
varieties to delve toward, trapped
in the centers of concrete vistas --
the stench of tubular onion throbbing
here and there (the hot watering it would mean
to grab them by the roots),
the cool tint of a rare, odd splotch of bluegrass
just out of sight, and calling for a turning
of the head, the impossible wildflowers --
Monet goldenrod, blue and buttercup --
in an undeveloped mud field, paled by the sun,
big, mustard-steel construction machines,
surrounding, like circling wagons --
the impossible wildflowers,
the impossible field.
We walk about, and I see dying leaves
brushing the feet of these statues. It's
Spring now, but there will be cracking
leaves in six months -- will we be here,
still -- in late August,
or early September?

Date of Birth: December 12, 1978 Location: Washington, DC Occupation: Actor Email: peter@cassidydouglas.com Website: http://www.cassidydouglas.com Publications: G.W. Review, The Hollins Critic, The Mind’s Eye, Paperplates, Rattapallax, Red Booth Review, Spank Thru, Writer’s Journal, Stirring V3:E3, V3:E5, V3:E6, V3:E11, V3:E12

- April 2002 - For C.C. and Mr. Shaman Midnight at the Hot Springs A Rebeginning Things that are Left at K-mart, According my Dream on Wednesday Little Shadows Anonymity Domestic Leaving the dining room Coup The New Gynecologist Dreaming of Grandma Anastasia Gathering vodka. - Stirring's Best Nature Poems - Rodin's Stare Attrition Hither and Yon Grace at the Top of the Food Chain Dear Alaska fraser river, december