Clear Morning

--Louise Glück

I've watched you long enough,

I can speak to you any way I like--

I've submitted to your preferences, observing patiently

the things you love, speaking

through vehicles only, in

details of earth, as you prefer,

tendrils

of blue clematis, light,

of early evening--

you would never accept

a voice like mine, indifferent

to the objects you busily name,

your mouths 

smal circles of awe--

All this time

I indulged your limitation, thinking

you would cast it aside yourselves sooner or later,

thinking matter could not absorb your gaze forever--

obstacle of the clematis painting

blue flowers on the porch window--

I cannot go on

restricting myself to images

because you think it is your right

to dispute my meaning:

I am prepared now to force

clarity upon you.