the Nerudian excessive lilacs.
(Neruda's desk came to him from a wave
off Isla Negra.) "Matilde! Matilde!
My desk! My desk!" he yelled,
spotting the wood in the ocean.
Together Matilde and Neruda
"went down to the beach and sat
on the sand, waiting for a wave
to wash up the wood. . . ."
Neruda placed the wood ocean view
in front of a window and placed
a photo of young Whitman on it &
a photo of old Whitman on it.
How Whitman loved lilacs. You can
smell lilacs when you read Whitman.
Breathing lilacs our house falls dark
around us, drops like night clothing,
days' faces. Convalescent hearted
lilac pilgrims cannot stop breathing
the wet dark lilac nights.