---

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the green minnow

bears a white &

black mark

at his tail

 

by which we

understand

what fish

he’ll be

 

(& all things

bear a mark

for the under-

standing)

 

 

 

your voice

in dark

is no

less, then,

your voice;

 

mine, from

behind you,

’s mine

as from

before

 

                       

(whatever is

is mark’d first

as itself;

 

later, if ev-

er, as gener-

ic being.)

 

 

 

 

 

This poem was first published in the Robert Lax special issue of Voyages, vol. 2

                                          no. 1 & 2, 1968