THE RAT MINARET

THE RAT MINARET

© Mac Wellman 2012

L R Llittle red leaves textile editions

www.littleredleaves.com

© Mac Wellman 2012

L R Llittle red leaves textile editions

www.littleredleaves.com

The Rat MinaretMac Wellman

little red leaves 2012

The Rat MinaretMac Wellman

little red leaves 2012

[6]

[6]

=

=

[5]

[5]

LOST from an airyisostasylime disc, Southyou and SILVERY

~

O fanciest fan choralvat brilliant violet,

here the f lixweed’s ...

~

AIRY disc tipped up and onsilvery

an X and

~

LOST from an airyisostasylime disc, Southyou and SILVERY

~

O fanciest fan choralvat brilliant violet,

here the f lixweed’s ...

~

AIRY disc tipped up and onsilvery

an X and

~

[6]

[6]

A line of triple X’s are earmarked, goto screw the,

Pan-dora,

go and catch atakes it to

the only “ism”;Y the ceremony

Y the cereus;Close the clack-valve, the

~

A line of triple X’s are earmarked, goto screw the,

Pan-dora,

go and catch atakes it to

the only “ism”;Y the ceremony

Y the cereus;Close the clack-valve, the

~

[7]

[7]

Odd’s sake takes the risk.An immolation

inthe name of whose day.

No match, or if one,no gasoline;

who runs this joint? Not a who

known to Peekaboo.

~

Odd’s sake takes the risk.An immolation

inthe name of whose day.

No match, or if one,no gasoline;

who runs this joint? Not a who

known to Peekaboo.

~

[8]

[8]

As ever, both imperial and anticanonical,Silvery’s

madfools none, butfuels the dark.

Dim departure’sblack light.

~

Go to A one less could be a nightmarishnickel

wallop,X the

~

As ever, both imperial and anticanonical,Silvery’s

madfools none, butfuels the dark.

Dim departure’sblack light.

~

Go to A one less could be a nightmarishnickel

wallop,X the

~

[9]

[9]

CLASSIC urn-wallow and hop to hope tosnip from agenbite,mealybug, tookto Bazerlies Cylinders;not bay-bay, no,nor

bayadere

~

Telecommute with Teledu, Xis not enough

true tinseypaddle boat to the

long plank, inkstand on to inkstar

~

CLASSIC urn-wallow and hop to hope tosnip from agenbite,mealybug, tookto Bazerlies Cylinders;not bay-bay, no,nor

bayadere

~

Telecommute with Teledu, Xis not enough

true tinseypaddle boat to the

long plank, inkstand on to inkstar

~

[10]

[10]

A scarabrecliner dripdries ahook catenary

to aks you, DregdrindrumlinY and off

U and non u toa beepollen

drinkable predicate sunburst, o

Y.

~

A scarabrecliner dripdries ahook catenary

to aks you, DregdrindrumlinY and off

U and non u toa beepollen

drinkable predicate sunburst, o

Y.

~

[11]

[11]

So, the 31st of St Precis’s day, thescaremonger andMeker burner, whowho and who isshe, O Melancthonian, whothe Xthe XThe Y-- photophobophonic-- who careers to? the.Who.

~

YES, ladies y ladrones, at Jay it turns back into a G;

at St Rogue’s dropU

is xspelled toC.

C bright so.

~

So, the 31st of St Precis’s day, thescaremonger andMeker burner, whowho and who isshe, O Melancthonian, whothe Xthe XThe Y-- photophobophonic-- who careers to? the.Who.

~

YES, ladies y ladrones, at Jay it turns back into a G;

at St Rogue’s dropU

is xspelled toC.

C bright so.

~

[12]

[12]

TO find a gamma golden today rose in the voice asunvoiced,

nichenidifugous

Shied away from, shieldtempered. A glint

glimpse of the of the

of the afar owlradiopaque

my fellow X and radish

ish. sh. Fall silent now

~

TO find a gamma golden today rose in the voice asunvoiced,

nichenidifugous

Shied away from, shieldtempered. A glint

glimpse of the of the

of the afar owlradiopaque

my fellow X and radish

ish. sh. Fall silent now

~

[13]

[13]

A ripening West Thornrecalculates the timbre

tamtamtem;

One kind of owlgrass topis another’s Trip to J.

tomtum

tum, o;

Tin, listen to your shapely canfor it cannot mum aluminum

tumtemtem.

~

A ripening West Thornrecalculates the timbre

tamtamtem;

One kind of owlgrass topis another’s Trip to J.

tomtum

tum, o;

Tin, listen to your shapely canfor it cannot mum aluminum

tumtemtem.

~

[14]

[14]

So, as Silvery’s empty turn

droptoa

grave condition, actual

as the Mole’s-way

delves a darkening

bloodswort

~

So, as Silvery’s empty turn

droptoa

grave condition, actual

as the Mole’s-way

delves a darkening

bloodswort

~

[15]

[15]

Deep in the Malabar nightshade, dear, magnus hitchis diazatized

with a swivel-typenewel. Deep in the sem-sem X

Madras, madrasah, mahoon.

~

Somewhere’s wicked glove, moonpowdered,silent, extreme.

A star goose on high,

Limbo catwalk

delivered. A dare

devilled egg.No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

~

Deep in the Malabar nightshade, dear, magnus hitchis diazatized

with a swivel-typenewel. Deep in the sem-sem X

Madras, madrasah, mahoon.

~

Somewhere’s wicked glove, moonpowdered,silent, extreme.

A star goose on high,

Limbo catwalk

delivered. A dare

devilled egg.No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

~

[16]

[16]

With a jinx upon the timing gearan

X is lost

where St Powder frownedin azure crystal

Dinnono. Dinoon. Din.

~

Needle growing in ancient basalthear

Time’srampant chirrup. X to a turnip

is taut entablature. A no one

goad, gree.

~

With a jinx upon the timing gearan

X is lost

where St Powder frownedin azure crystal

Dinnono. Dinoon. Din.

~

Needle growing in ancient basalthear

Time’srampant chirrup. X to a turnip

is taut entablature. A no one

goad, gree.

~

[17]

[17]

A medley of whackswatted.

Ohm’s toe. Things grow cold.

~

Daylight recognitionizes

nebunebunebu

cats eat grassunder

moonish moonlight.

Things grow hot.

~

A medley of whackswatted.

Ohm’s toe. Things grow cold.

~

Daylight recognitionizes

nebunebunebu

cats eat grassunder

moonish moonlight.

Things grow hot.

~

[18]

[18]

UNITED BOLT & SCREWwill

find youout.

Down in down in down in. Outperson;in your

featherbed of X’s and O’s.

Down in Dumbowhere live wires

turnthe

buckle, O to off.

~

UNITED BOLT & SCREWwill

find youout.

Down in down in down in. Outperson;in your

featherbed of X’s and O’s.

Down in Dumbowhere live wires

turnthe

buckle, O to off.

~

[19]

[19]

KEEP C in secret shoebox, monsoor,for whose X

sake an unknownoboe mmm

inaugurates an aural haloof ignes fatui

~

ALL the way clear to Aliquippa

helical ticks the gearwheel,

Kewpie Kewpie Kewpie;

radiant with nonself.

KEEP C in secret shoebox, monsoor,for whose X

sake an unknownoboe mmm

inaugurates an aural haloof ignes fatui

~

ALL the way clear to Aliquippa

helical ticks the gearwheel,

Kewpie Kewpie Kewpie;

radiant with nonself.

[20]

[20]

>

>

[21]

[21]

The Rat Minaret--

Hazarding past thedewdrop Wyou encountercounter

a nonself

redrift as can opener.

~

Raven’s woolly departure’s Y top a

burnt Bernouli;

you too.

~

The Rat Minaret--

Hazarding past thedewdrop Wyou encountercounter

a nonself

redrift as can opener.

~

Raven’s woolly departure’s Y top a

burnt Bernouli;

you too.

~

[22]

[22]

NO POINT MORTGAGES wilt in daynightswild thyme;

the onus on us

a tragic lumber. Conceal your

ogive in glitter’s hole, fabulous

with real church baptism

~

Evil Raven, have paper pity upon thosein Stamford Plaza.

~

NO POINT MORTGAGES wilt in daynightswild thyme;

the onus on us

a tragic lumber. Conceal your

ogive in glitter’s hole, fabulous

with real church baptism

~

Evil Raven, have paper pity upon thosein Stamford Plaza.

~

[23]

[23]

Who lowers the unseen hat from on highif not

an unseen dominionwith an unknown agenda?

~

Soon an oldy amphoraishere & now’s amphora;

grows antlered and

writin’ on tablesis stupid

as the saying goes.

~

Who lowers the unseen hat from on highif not

an unseen dominionwith an unknown agenda?

~

Soon an oldy amphoraishere & now’s amphora;

grows antlered and

writin’ on tablesis stupid

as the saying goes.

~

[24]

[24]

Midnight rain:

A ghost slopsfrom door to door

asking for a realumbrella.

Sad, saddest Hejirah!

But no one hearsthe fatal knock.

~

Most simple things repel each against the other.

The rule is a skid-mark of light.Humble, yet a

frightwig’s truth.

~

Midnight rain:

A ghost slopsfrom door to door

asking for a realumbrella.

Sad, saddest Hejirah!

But no one hearsthe fatal knock.

~

Most simple things repel each against the other.

The rule is a skid-mark of light.Humble, yet a

frightwig’s truth.

~

[25]

[25]

Endowed fiction of a mouse ear,bring to eachspecificfracture the

absolute.

Absolute ears are listeningto all thingsatop the Rat Minaret.

~

7 places, each a heptad nuisance because you hafta can’t be too 7, see?

~

Endowed fiction of a mouse ear,bring to eachspecificfracture the

absolute.

Absolute ears are listeningto all thingsatop the Rat Minaret.

~

7 places, each a heptad nuisance because you hafta can’t be too 7, see?

~

[26]

[26]

Silvery tells no sphere to go andhawk the hat;

because the hat is oldyshe wear the fatal coat.

Silvery slips through dark reedslike pure contrition;

like smoke.Someone is in love with

someone no more.

~

NO tongue but bumbles, hasne’er expressedwhat the umbel

does, this caloric Fallin perfect radiation.

~

Silvery tells no sphere to go andhawk the hat;

because the hat is oldyshe wear the fatal coat.

Silvery slips through dark reedslike pure contrition;

like smoke.Someone is in love with

someone no more.

~

NO tongue but bumbles, hasne’er expressedwhat the umbel

does, this caloric Fallin perfect radiation.

~

[27]

[27]

Some one lies awake, her eye attentive in the general sleep

as it

tosses the moon from cat to cat

a gloved cloud recalls

those long, long lashes.

~

Some one lies awake, her eye attentive in the general sleep

as it

tosses the moon from cat to cat

a gloved cloud recalls

those long, long lashes.

~

[28]

[28]

Something saucer-eyed, O Airy, resides atthe bottomof thy inky porcelain.

~

CRACKED ATTICS run the gamut of ruin’sopen-faced

timber. Last puppet still

must detox debug.

O Alabama, O Alabama.

~

Something saucer-eyed, O Airy, resides atthe bottomof thy inky porcelain.

~

CRACKED ATTICS run the gamut of ruin’sopen-faced

timber. Last puppet still

must detox debug.

O Alabama, O Alabama.

~

[29]

[29]

At the sun hub’s electromagneticsanctorumsomething

telltaletells me I am correct to

hide all expectation.

~

Each ring tells a story in the worldbefore this one, too.

Three to a parable.Four to a

treehouse, see.

~

At the sun hub’s electromagneticsanctorumsomething

telltaletells me I am correct to

hide all expectation.

~

Each ring tells a story in the worldbefore this one, too.

Three to a parable.Four to a

treehouse, see.

~

[30]

[30]

Tell me, O silent Mahoon, which was theturn’s out;

and if a fracture in the porcelain,which way corrected its bat

and being a dead bat,gone and skyugled.

And they say the speaking leafis done.

~

Tell me, O silent Mahoon, which was theturn’s out;

and if a fracture in the porcelain,which way corrected its bat

and being a dead bat,gone and skyugled.

And they say the speaking leafis done.

~

[31]

[31]

What will not serve a tellingshould be,

poor Witch of Agnesi,

perhaps withheld; althougha

lower, wider, deeperfractal

Euclid be drownedin pillow.

~

What will not serve a tellingshould be,

poor Witch of Agnesi,

perhaps withheld; althougha

lower, wider, deeperfractal

Euclid be drownedin pillow.

~

[32]

[32]

Odd raven, blow the tufted flinty charas

youpass over past

us: derelict andyellow-headed, a

nonself of magpieand other yellowyellow stuff.

~

Blue sky in a human facethe wide surprisesurprised at itself

Auntie No Hoo Hoohas learned it all from you,

highest shelf of self.

~

Odd raven, blow the tufted flinty charas

youpass over past

us: derelict andyellow-headed, a

nonself of magpieand other yellowyellow stuff.

~

Blue sky in a human facethe wide surprisesurprised at itself

Auntie No Hoo Hoohas learned it all from you,

highest shelf of self.

~

[33]

[33]

What has opened is a weed’sbelief;

our laughter has no placein that oubliette,

but neither has our silence.

For Celan

~

So perfectly done and yetblank,

the show, as limned in blackvelour, lost riddles and a

snatch or two upon thesingular Cuban beard.

~

What has opened is a weed’sbelief;

our laughter has no placein that oubliette,

but neither has our silence.

For Celan

~

So perfectly done and yetblank,

the show, as limned in blackvelour, lost riddles and a

snatch or two upon thesingular Cuban beard.

~

[34]

[34]

If I have truly repaired the riddlehow, how how could I

not know it from the, the

fact of itand the Airy disc

of passionateplausibility that is

stuck there, blind rat.

~

Raven walks stick-legged to a moonmuch like ours,

roundy in appearancebut of a false order of being;

only there do they repairRaven’s broken wing.

~

If I have truly repaired the riddlehow, how how could I

not know it from the, the

fact of itand the Airy disc

of passionateplausibility that is

stuck there, blind rat.

~

Raven walks stick-legged to a moonmuch like ours,

roundy in appearancebut of a false order of being;

only there do they repairRaven’s broken wing.

~

[35]

[35]

?

?

[36]

[36]

Moth house is taking over, Sir Footfall,my

silvery domain.whyscare

what’s scarlet, if onlythese wings

alarm me, with a motheryof piffle, in my own

house of cards?

~

Moth house is taking over, Sir Footfall,my

silvery domain.whyscare

what’s scarlet, if onlythese wings

alarm me, with a motheryof piffle, in my own

house of cards?

~

[37]

[37]

Both ways at once impossiblebut double.

Both necessary to be humana terror

and terrificity.

Light caulin

cat’s humpedfur.

Adark call to simultaneous zig

zagzug

swan. O

~

Both ways at once impossiblebut double.

Both necessary to be humana terror

and terrificity.

Light caulin

cat’s humpedfur.

Adark call to simultaneous zig

zagzug

swan. O

~

[38]

[38]

.00007 is not only not my lark

it is a hopeless disposalofa numberless

stress of mustard seed upon the

pumpkin wind, oh.

~

.00007 is not only not my lark

it is a hopeless disposalofa numberless

stress of mustard seed upon the

pumpkin wind, oh.

~

[39]

[39]

A slip-up master minded is afixture

with no plug.

A fixture with no plug,O Airy, ought

to pass for merely humanin about a million

more seconds of anguishover the nature

of what’s

fixed and what’s free

by the overturned lake.

Near Popup and Peeptown,over second thoughts.

~

A slip-up master minded is afixture

with no plug.

A fixture with no plug,O Airy, ought

to pass for merely humanin about a million

more seconds of anguishover the nature

of what’s

fixed and what’s free

by the overturned lake.

Near Popup and Peeptown,over second thoughts.

~

[40]

[40]

My opening is now closed again.After 7 yearsa broken glasshas told thewordwhat to do:

what remains

like the shuttle cock

cannot beshut

Down. Cannot be so simply done.

~

My opening is now closed again.After 7 yearsa broken glasshas told thewordwhat to do:

what remains

like the shuttle cock

cannot beshut

Down. Cannot be so simply done.

~

[41]

[41]

Up on the moon’s highest pillowSilverysits and shutsher faint wing

till someone dare point theunerring finger in herdirection.

That finger is a way of assentingwithout saying “yes”.

~

Up on the moon’s highest pillowSilverysits and shutsher faint wing

till someone dare point theunerring finger in herdirection.

That finger is a way of assentingwithout saying “yes”.

~

[42]

[42]

After is after all a fiction,for like X

uponY

it is whatnever arrives and and and

River runs out the tub

Bim, bam, bum.

~

After is after all a fiction,for like X

uponY

it is whatnever arrives and and and

River runs out the tub

Bim, bam, bum.

~

[43]

[43]

Go, and find Airy her silver shoesforno lampswamp with gooey luxortripsand sways

deep, deep, deep in Gooner Park.

End of The Rat Minaret

Go, and find Airy her silver shoesforno lampswamp with gooey luxortripsand sways

deep, deep, deep in Gooner Park.

End of The Rat Minaret

MAC WELLMAN’s recent work includes 3 2’s; or AFAR

at Dixon Place in October 2011, The Difficulty of Crossing a Field (with composer David Lang) at Montclair in the fall

of 2006 (and elsewhere more recently), and 1965 UU for

performer Paul Lazar, and directed by Stephen Mellor at the

Chocolate Factory in the fall of 2008. He has received nu-

merous honors, including NEA, Guggenheim, and Founda-

tion of Contemporary Arts fellowships. In 2003 he received

his third Obie, for Lifetime Achievement. In 2006 his third

novel, Q’s Q , was published by Green Integer, and in 2008

a volume of stories, A Chronicle of the Madness of Small Worlds,

was published by Trip Street Press as well as a new collec-

tion of plays The Difficulty of Crossing a Field from Minnesota

Press. His books of poetry include Miniature (2002), Strange Elegies (2006) both from Roof Books, and Left Glove, just out

from Solid Objects Press. He is Distinguished Professor of

Play Writing at Brooklyn College.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .little red leaves textile series chapbooks are lovingly sewn by

Dawn Pendergast in Houston, Texas.

MAC WELLMAN’s recent work includes 3 2’s; or AFAR

at Dixon Place in October 2011, The Difficulty of Crossing a Field (with composer David Lang) at Montclair in the fall

of 2006 (and elsewhere more recently), and 1965 UU for

performer Paul Lazar, and directed by Stephen Mellor at the

Chocolate Factory in the fall of 2008. He has received nu-

merous honors, including NEA, Guggenheim, and Founda-

tion of Contemporary Arts fellowships. In 2003 he received

his third Obie, for Lifetime Achievement. In 2006 his third

novel, Q’s Q , was published by Green Integer, and in 2008

a volume of stories, A Chronicle of the Madness of Small Worlds,

was published by Trip Street Press as well as a new collec-

tion of plays The Difficulty of Crossing a Field from Minnesota

Press. His books of poetry include Miniature (2002), Strange Elegies (2006) both from Roof Books, and Left Glove, just out

from Solid Objects Press. He is Distinguished Professor of

Play Writing at Brooklyn College.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .little red leaves textile series chapbooks are lovingly sewn by

Dawn Pendergast in Houston, Texas.