[I went to my office, I went to the palace—
a swan to the swan.
I brought a bull to the chamber
and rattled the crown.]
Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Monday 6 February 1659/60.
Stranger
[“Tell me, stranger,
what love should be called.”
The stranger preached the whole book
then went into court.
A drum came by, beating
a strange manner of beat—
now and then a single stroke.
I wondered at what I saw
but did not speak.]
Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Sunday 5 February 1659/60.
Hanging jack
[My lute an office
where I expect to walk.
I found a stone in mourning
for the temple.
Bread and butter were discoursing
of the great eater.
I remember a hanging jack
to roast birds—that heat.
I played a while on my lute
and could not kill anything.]
Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Saturday 4 February 1659/60.
Flock
[Drank my morning quiet and my noon-time stew:
a study for a ring for a wedding for old soldiers
in the dark in the park where a far flock played.]
Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Friday 3 February 1659/60.
Water men
[All in town go by water
and talk with the water, desire
to be water: a dress of ten thousand hands.
The water received the water
and they made a great deal of joy to see one another.
I left off my great skirt
and went to sell a horse
for a dish of herrings.]
Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Thursday 2 February 1659/60.
Downer
[The old man brought porridge and nothing else.
The swan, in little hopes about down,
got £60 for her neck and lodgings in the field
and would not give bedding like a fool.]
Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Wednesday 1 February 1659/60.
Changeless
[In a barrel of soap, a pot of ale,
a bag in another bag—
where will God fit if his own purse
could have no change?]
Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Tuesday 31 January 1659/60.
The day the music died
[My song died,
a note gone to ash.
My flageolette got an ague.
My shot harp sat
in a bed of nails.]
Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Monday 30 January 1659/60.
Under the gun
[In the gun, an excellent doctrine of St. Peter.
I spur myself to be afraid,
to hear little,
and understand without going to see.]
Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Sunday 29 January 1659/60.
Going to heaven
[I left my business, sent for my best fur cap,
went to Heaven and dined on a breast of mutton.
Happiness carried me in his coach.]
Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Saturday 28 January 1659/60.