To live is to defend a form.
—Anton Webern

I. Moderately slow


what will you do, God,
when I am dead?

not quote
Rilke


II. In the time of an easy Austrian Landler


We’ll go to Egypt and see nothing but blue sky,
we’ll walk across water on my matted streptococci—

that will be the day
to be happy


systole, diastole, dance
the holy dance!


III. Rondo: Burleske


what’s red, bleeds—
and runs in circles?

the miracle 
of the art of
the human
heart

in a sweat


IV. Adagio


Grinzing cemetery, outside Wien, May 19, 1911:

the sun shone on
on one alone


“Bless relaxes”