Philip+Whalen

Philip Whalen

Whalen's poems from Evergreen 2, see attached file



"Plus Ca Change" (1955)   What are you doing

I am coldly calculating I didn't ask for a characterization. Tell me what we're going to do.

That's what I'm coldly calculating You had better say "plotting" or "scheming" You never could calculate without a machine.

Then I'm brooding. Presently A plot will hatch. Who are you trying to kid?

Be nice.

(SILENCE)

Listen. Whatever we do from here on out Let's for God's sake not look at each other Keep our eyes shut and the lights turned off-- We won't mind touching if we don't have to see.

I'll ignore those preposterous feathers. Say what you please, we brought itall on ourselves But nobody's going out of his way to look.

Who'd recognize us now? We'll just pretend we're used to it. (Watch out with that goddamned tail!) Pull the shades down. Turn off the lights Shut your eyes.

(SILENCE)

There is no satisfactory explanation. You can talk until you're blue

Just how much bluer can I get? Well, save breath you need to cool

Will you please shove the cuttlebone a little closer? All right, until the perfumes of Arabia

Grow cold. Ah! Sunflower seeds! Will you listen, please? I'm trying to make a rational suggestion. Do you mind?

Certainly not. Just //what // shall we tell the children?

