from the collection that dance
as if inside
moments passed
decline in
beneath which lies a decaying soul
can fall down surprisingly
on a sunny rooftop
In Marrakesh:
so thick with tea
mint it mesmerizes
kelp
in a cylinder of the sea
but for the bees
Looking at the top:
and that man is my guide
so carefree
he seems to be sipping
very furiously
calm too
One
sticks to it
beard and companions
with your little interstellar
eyes and foggy confucius
face
so close to the lips
it could be a bee
boisterous sociable
Urge Drink up, boy,
drink
before i blink
Back
hamden
with a permanent
thirst and prickling
Dreams.
____________________________
derive from that dance By Christian Wiman. Published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, July 2026. Copyright © 2026 by Christian Wiman. All rights reserved.
Christian Viman
Christian Wiman is the author, editor or translator of over a dozen books of poetry and prose, including two memoirs, My Bright Abyss: Meditations of a Modern Believer And They Bear Radical Light: The Art of Faith, The Art of Faith; every broken thingWinner of the Ambassador Book Award; once in the westNational Book Critics Circle Award Finalist; And survival is a style-All published by FSG. He teaches religion and literature at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music and Yale Divinity School.
