"Life" is, perhaps, more full of sex than any previous bk of Alan's. It's also one of those poetry bks that only has printing on one side of the page, usually short poems w/ much space around them. Even though it might be called a waste of paper, I usually like this form, I feel more relaxed around it, my lungs feel less clogged.

From the cement bridge
over the brown river
you can spit on your reflection
and not feel a thing.

More friendly words:

John Godfrey melts some of the best butter in town. Always has. Always will.

3 pp in a row:

I am on top of you Elise
and fair, and fair is far
and farthings in the air.

I read old Su T'Ung P'o
and weep, and weeping's care
where you and I are there.

We caverned in this stillish grace
a place, and waited it with air
and pricked the depth with miracles in pairs.

followed by:

But I want all of you
so all men can have all of you.

followed by:

Alas Elise a light love likes.

It seems that w/ this bk Alan has indeed decided that:

Poetry that nourishes itself primarily on poetry nourishes primarily itself.

It seems to me that Alan & I share a pain of always needing women & not always getting what we need. But maybe I'm projecting myself too much into this & extracting too little of Alan. ( )