KATABASIS ANABASIS

TIDINGS in one of the stitched-in mirror voices...

Eurydice

R a c h e l B l a u D u P l e s s i s

1.
Since the narcissus bud, eye of a bird,
of a girl,
almond shaped eye,

when not yet open,
smells more of its
rich flower
than
when it has opened,

she desires never to be opened.

a hidden bird     mistaken
for a leaf on a young tree.


2.

She will lie naked where sea touches sand;
her own body
the border; the edge
dividing ocean and land
against itself; but of one body.

And tides come over her.
Then she will be turned
into a smooth stone
salt white as an egg,
shiny as an eye.

She will turn
over and over on herself,
body balancing ocean and land,
throwing the stone

down

a deeper and deeper well.

3.
Back arched like a bow
lips like arrows stinging.

And then you wet me with your tongue.

This is my fragrance.
You say
honey tastes sour
after.

You sing to me
that I am a fresh pool


4.
Where is the bird?
fallen from flying

Where is the arrow?
hard in the wound

Where is the stone?

Songs are his,
melody like a great linked chain.
Touch is his,
outlining the edge of my dance.

I cannot find my center
I cannot find my path.
Now he can make me open, shut and open

Now I have lost myself.


5.
Silent I sit in the garden
Silent I go forth

Flower or meadow
where is there meaning

I pass through the meadow


6.
Her deepest desire was to pierce herself.
     the snake her head
     the snake her hair
     the snake her arm
     the snake her ribs
     the snake her foot

into crevices between rock faces
under Surfaces
under flowers
under Earth.


7.
I went into the fissure.
The dark rock opened.
I faced away from the shining Point
of earth-green light.

This is stone
opening,
the uneven, moist, hard surface,
rock-littered path,
jagged,
catching myself.

Hard Cave
I have entered.

This is stone
deeper
than I ever was.

8.
I see rocks made by the slow dripping of water
I see an underground pool, thick as a black mirror
I see a spring at the source.

9.

He has entered the dark
behind me

He wants to bring me back to the light

He wants to retrace the steps of my journey.

No.

I am turning.

I am going deeper
into the living Cave.


10.
In the Cave I am a rope held out to myself
silver and gleaming in the labyrinth.
I know the center of the cave.

In the Cave
I am a vein of silver in the rock.

In the Cave
I am an ancient plant
putting forth thin white root threads.
I can make the rock crumble into rich earth.

In the Cave
I am matted, woven roots.



11.
She will take shape and sprout
a soft light far from the Surface
pushing outward, of her own Power
   stalk, ladder of climbing cells
   root, filling the corridors of rock
   flower, breaking the earth, fragrant, opening

   seeds of Eurydice

She will brood and be born

girl of her own mother

mother of the labyrinth

daughter

pushing the child herself outward

   great head, the cave large inside it

   great limbs of a giant woman 
   great cunt, fragrant, opening

   seeds of Eurydice

1973-74