I climb the steps to my room. Thinking of my bed, I unlock the door, though I meant to do something else. A Chinese girl, in purple, is by the window. She tells me the pictures in her head. I can barely see her. An African is a man burning in her memory. I look out the window. I try to open the window. It's hot. Outside, the landscape tries to escape the trees planted in it. I try again. The window won't open. The African is now making love to the Chinese girl. Is this a dream? Is she dreaming this or am I? Now, the Chinese girl says to me, "Remove the African, and I will show you how to open the window." Used with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, P.O. Box 271, Port Townsend, WA 98368-0271, www.cc.press.org | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...KU KLUX by MADISON JULIUS CAWEIN THE POPLAR FIELD by WILLIAM COWPER THE WELCOME by THOMAS OSBORNE DAVIS THE CHILDREN'S HOUR by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE WARDEN OF THE CINQUE PORTS (THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON) by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW TO THE DRIVING CLOUD by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE THREE WARNINGS by HESTER LYNCH (SALUSBURY) PIOZZI MICHAEL; A PASTORAL POEM by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH LINES WRITTEN IN A CITY COMPOSING-ROOM by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS |