Epigraph

Potter hates potter, carpenters compete,
And beggar strives with beggar, bard with bard.

December

et passim rivis currentia vina repressit

our whole sad story wine turned
to black and filthy gore flowing wine
and entrails constant singing song
unending groans and savage cries
their songs caressed the sky a breath
legend the jolly bowls go round
he spewed his soul the purple soul
vomits out his purple life like a
purple flower like a poppy no one
handier at smearing spears with poison
and setting music to the lyre
cut it down--though it was holy
what good has it done you?
(a fiendish gall that has no remedy)

November

arise once more
enriched with the spoils
by a hundred brazen knots
so saying
hallooing perhaps agleam
with the colour of roses
where once had been huts
all made of bronze
--'twas a wonder to see--
build it anew
unwearying song that none
durst enter a ball
at their feet Apollo
had offered a gift he chose

October

sweat is streaming everywhere
he is panting
whose fame is now in darkness
they glitter
do not entrust your verses to the leaves
you are that Maximus the only man who
soothed the air with song
winds will take and scatter all of these
as a purple flower or poppies
erase you from the memory of time
mad poor fool
unlock the Alps
and singing still made for the stars
not mere rumor but a messenger more certain

September

the sweat ran down in streams rivering down
he seemed to pant he's breathless
whose names are in the dark lost in the dark depths
all shining glittering
commit no verses to the leaves
Maximus you are the only soul who
charmed the air with jargoning
these the winds of heaven scattered every one
as a bright flower as a crimson flower
take you out of the record of remembering time
he lost his head the idiot
the Alps laid open wide
left the earth and chanting sought the stars
indecent birds obscene birds

August

she kept her armor world
a world of tears suppliants
grieving palms beating
breasts breathe
marjoram breathe embrace
dissolving into empty air
still dragging out my life leaves
the slightest breath of air will
scatter visitors unlock her lips
and sing my one lapse
a hundred altars riots of
flowers set ablaze wild as
a top a hundred brazen
bolts and iron strong forever

July

for so vast a frame
the thin remains of ruin'd Troy
they march obscure in
order painted on the wall
curious work all
parts resound with tumults
indigested foam and morsels raw
the mounds the works the walls
for ornament besmear'd
with filth and holy gore
poets worthy their inspiring god
open all the furies of her face
the clowns a num'rous rout
but all of naked men