Maximus, to Óláfs son

With apologies to Charles Olson.For Nina Sloan

You no longer have to learn the
simplest things last. Let us learn them
as one. Even at sea we will sail slow, offer a hand when
crossing a wet deck.
We'll make the sea, finally, our trade.
But even our trade, at it, we shall stand close
to that which is most familiar. We will wait,
and give the man a brand-new argument
that every of our
delays is just cause,
for insurrection,
a soft revolt
that takes the sweetest time
Where the single
no longer need be
known

It couldn't be, though the sweetness (the canistel)
We'll note in others,
will make more sense
than our own distances. The agilities

we'll show only
in our nightly
businesses
And in our natures
as we have only
sense and have done both

Let us make dialogues,
and discuss all kind texts,
throw any light we can, offer
what pleasures
sentiat allows


But the known?
This, we must learn to forgive us,
a life, love, and from one friend
the word.
The whole.
And sitting here
We'll look out as a fire
and earth man, tasting,
savouring
the root

You still know of the
weather, whither the wind might blow,
where it goes. But the stem of you,
this they'll take from our welcome,
of our acceptance, of them

And their arrogance
will greatly diminish,
changed for love
by the communication


2

It is complete business
I speak of, this evening,
while the sea
swells and flows
under the bow