A Conversation Between Strangers

Poems selected by Paul Cummins

‘Born to die’

who can deny it?

the simple fact

of all things

opening,

closing

on others,

ourselves

a fist

an eye

who would have it otherwise?

to hold what thing?

in what place?

Beauty? Love?

you’re just not paying attention,

It all must go.

If we’re to breath

again. The bandmaster

says it best:

and a one, and a two, and a three.

-- Peter Levitt

Peter Levitt is a superb American poet. He lives in Topanga Canyon with his wife psychologist Shirley Graham and their son Kai. His daughter, Sheba, graduated from Crossroads School in 1989. Peter won the prestigious Lannan award in 1989. He is a practicing Zen Buddhist and a magical teacher. Here, for example, are a few Levitt comments to students: "dropping all your opinions in order to experience yourself"..."The idea in writing is to walk out in the snow, turn around, and see no footprints"..."A poem is a conversation between strangers." His small print collected works,