Stephen Dunn

1. In those few precious seconds before impact I am certain time didn't stop. Instead it staggered and stuttered and skipped a circle around me: I blink, and the cab driver is honking at someone on the road. I blink, and

Working on my poems today. Writing letters. Looking up the ceiling. Left foot tapping along with Charlie Parker. I am holding this close to my heart: Here, as in the other poems, there is the question of forgiveness. I’m curious about

Just came home from a lovely dinner. Today is my father's birthday. I wish I had the strength to tell him how much I appreciate his presence in my life every day. But I grew up not learning how to

One of my favourite poems by Dunn, and one that I fall in love with, each time I read it. Slant Stephen Dunn Yesterday, for a long while, the early morning sunlight in the trees was sufficient, replaced by a hello from a long-limbed woman pedaling her bike, whereupon

Always, always, Stephen Dunn, who knows me inside out, whose words live under my skin. The Vanishings Stephen Dunn One day it will vanish, how you felt when you were overwhelmed by her, soaping each other in the shower, or when you heard the news of

The rain. A full day, all to myself. These things, lulling me to sleep. The Waiting Stephen Dunn I waited for you calmly, with infinite patience. I waited for you hungrily, just short of desperate. When you came I knew that desperate was unattractive. I was

Holding on to these little truths. Traveling Stephen Dunn If you travel alone, hitchhiking, sleeping in woods, make a cathedral of the moonlight that reaches you, and lie down in it. Shake a box of nails at the night sounds for there is comfort in your own noise. And say

I talked about you today, to a friend over coffee. After some time we were both at a loss for words. Each from Different Heights Stephen Dunn That time I thought I was in love and calmly said so was not much different from the

This is for everyone - Poem For People That Are Understandably Too Busy To Read Poetry Stephen Dunn Relax. This won't last long. Or if it does, or if the lines make you sleepy or bored, give in to sleep, turn on the T.V., deal the cards. This

Because I wouldn't have it any other way. Sixty Stephen Dunn Because in my family the heart goes first and hardly anybody makes it out of his fifties, I think I'll stay up late with a few bandits of my choice and resist good advice. I'll invent