You don’t love the world.
If you loved the world you’d have
images in your poems.
John loves the world. He has
a motto: judge not
lest ye be judged. Don’t
argue this point
on the theory it isn’t possible
to love what one refuses
to know: to refuse
speech is not
to suppress perception.
Look at John, out in the world,
running even on a miserable day
like today. Your
staying dry is like the cat’s pathetic
preference for hunting dead birds: completely
consistent with your tame spiritual themes,
autumn, loss, darkness, etc.
We can all write about suffering
with our eyes closed. You should show people
more of yourself; show them your clandestine
passion for red meat.
— Louise Glück
white pebble 