Dec 1 59

Mike: like it says, a "pretty" poem - fot you!
          And many thanks for ye letters. Keep me on. Will be
          back on.

                                                                  love,
                                                                            Chas.

A PRETTY SERIOUS POEM

The Pleides rise
the cherries gleam
above the blood
of Geryon.

in the city
of Gades.

(shot him sideways
 through all three bodies at once

In the water-lily goblet Okeanos
pitched him violently
until he drew his bow

to the Red Land
to get the beasts

of Ocean's
grandson

In the Fenced City,
a secret tree
which takes all forms

                                        FOR MICHAEL McCLURE