kenneth koch

one train (knopf 1994)

A New Guide I Look at this Champagne factory It is in Epernay From it comes dry white wine with innumerable bubbles (It is made in a series of fifteen gabled white buildings--sheds) Borges writes that mirrors and fornication are "abominable" Because they increase the amount of reality This champagne factory transforms reality rather than simply increasing it Without it Epernay champagne wouldn't exist. 4 Look at this camel. A man unused to camels is trying to mount it. The camel's driver motions for the camel to kneel down On its front knees, which it does. The man mounts it. The camel gallops away. To qualify for his position the man must demonstrate his ability to ride a camel. He has failed. Maybe he will be given another chance--if it is decided that this was a defective camel. The worst thing that can happen is that he will be out of a job. He will not be shot. The camel crouches down now in the sand, Quiet, able, and at ease, with nothing about it defective. If the camel were found to be defective, it would be shot. That much of the old way still goes on. 6 Look at this orange. It was "made" by that orange tree over there. That orange tree seems to be smiling As it waves a little bit, just the slightest little bit, in this Andalusian wind. If it waved much more it might start to lose its oranges. It would. 7 Look at this arch. It is part of a building more than seven hundred years old. Every day from the time he was eighteen, probably, the man who made it worked in stone. Sometimes he had a day off--the stone would be in his mind. He would find in his mind ideas for patterns, lines, and angels. Now those ideas are gone. We have a different art. But for what we believe most we don't have art at all. 20 Look at this woman. The man she is with can't believe she has any connection to him. She doesn't. She turns the corner. But he walks after her. After a few hundred feet he has the courage to say Hello. You are very beautiful. May I walk with you a little ways. She nods her head, smiling. She doesn't understand him because he is not speaking Spanish, The only language she understands. The man says, in English, I have just arrived in Barcelona. She smiles, not understanding a word, except "Barcelona." Two women and three men go by, speaking Catalan.

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Talking to Patrizia Patrizia doesn't want to Talk about love she Says she just Wants to make Love but she talks About it endlessly to me. It is horrible it Is the worst thing in life Says Patrizia Nothing Not death not sickness Is as bad as love I am always In love I am always Suffering from love Says Patrizia. Now I am used to it But I am suffering all the same Do you know what I did to her Once?--speaking Of her girlfriend--I kicked her out I literally kicked her she was down on the floor and I Gave her the colpi di piedi the Kicks of my foot. She slided out. She did this To me promised to go on a trip I am all waiting prepared Suitcases and tickets She comes and says her other friend finds out she Can't go she guessed about it. I KICKED her out Oh we are still together Sometimes. But love is horrible. I thought You might be the best Person to talk to Patrizia since you Love women and are a woman Yourself. You may be right Patrizia

Said. But this woman who abandons You I think you should Disappear. Tough maybe with this woman Disappearing won't work. I think not disappear. It's too bad I don't know her. If I knew her I if could see her Just for ten minutes--I'm afraid If you saw her you might take Her away from me. Patrizia Laughs. No it hasn't happened to me Thank God to like such young women yet. Why? When you are my Age--still young--she Is thirty...nine? you are close enough To people very young to Know how horrible they are And you don't love them. You don't want to have anything To do with them! Oh Uh huh, I said putting My hands down on the table and then off Look at you excuse me but I have to laugh At you sitting in this horrible Restaurant at one o'clock In the morning in a City you don't want to be In and why? For this woman. It is horrible I know but Also funny I know I said. Listen I have An idea. Do you know her address? You know where She lives? You should go there Go and hide there Outside her house In the bushes...FOR MORE, BUY THE BOOK.