Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


WHITE MOTHS by TIMOTHY LIU

Poet Analysis

First Line: ESPALIERED / TO A RADIATOR GRILLE
Subject(s): MOTHS; DEATH; LIFE;

espaliered
to a radiator grille
or hurled
from the glass cave
of a child's mason jar

into the garden spider's web --
a slow dance
of paralytic
stings, death's handiwork

spun out of silk, cradled
by the wind --
and the bodies
warm to touch in the rising

drone of dusk still flutter
among
the bronzed backs
of men in the park --
pale wings
fanning a glitter of dust.


Used with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, P.O. Box 271, Port Townsend, WA
98368-0271, www.cc.press.org



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