Brian Swann has published a number of books in a number of genres. His forthcoming book, Born in the Blood: On Translating Native American Literature, is forthcoming from University of Nebraska Press (2011).
Poetry
Winter 1988
Carthage
From the window I can see the TV dumped over the bridge, its cathode and screen shattered into water that stays, and is sharp. Inside the window, winter tulips shipped […]
Poetry
Winter 1988
Worlds
To Leo and Nora Lionni From east of north, above the olives’ frost-dead twigs, across Scorpio and its once great star Odysseus sailed by—the Perseids comet shower. In another […]
Poetry
Winter 1988
Marriage
Even if the light go out; even if I’m told “There’s nothing more” …I’ll still remain. For one can always watch. —Rilke I stop on the back porch by the […]
Poetry
Spring 1986
The Beginning of the World
It’s the open skin of children,private keys like roseson stones, resurrection inthe half-light of dirt.The room is half-discovered,half-forgotten. A hundred eyeswatch the web where forestshang, reduced to seed. Feargallops away, […]
Poetry
Spring 1986
Märchen
I trace the mare’s tail that could swishstars from her back. Her nostrils couldtake in the world. Above a frieze of jade treesthe moon, red with insect blood, rocksa slow […]
Poetry
Spring 1986
Names
Nocturnal restorer, honeysuckle scent,you creep up on us, familiar as loss.And our fears fall away. Each cutcalls for its name, and we can give it now.Loneliness we call liberator: the […]
Poetry
Autumn 1981
Heron
He fished up the sun at the time of the falling of all things, and swallowed its fire. The people revived. Time and the mind began. Breath they took from […]