Dionysus in confinement at the leper's ward In Louisiana, on an island hospital Plongs his purple fingers plucking grapes. Bacchus at the pianola moves his mind. 5 Swelled music from his swelling digits poured Wine to the chill willows hanging crepe. And although the music, wine-induced, is less Than the musky forest through which it moves And less than the vatic profusions out of which it soars, 10 Irretrievable, large, and of the hugest heart hung high, Is less than that, a mincing of its human portion, Shrunken from a Greek intent, a skeleton on the keys, The leprous ladies in their spotted gowns still sway.
From the collection "Contemporaries"
Written by Gregg Glory [Gregg G. Brown]
More information available on gregglory.com.