The Wonderful Lamp

In the Salt Marsh: Poems (2004)

As it was very dirty, she began to rub it, that itmight fetch a higher price. Instantly a hideousgenie appeared and asked what she would have.\Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp

Admire this lamp, hammeredfrom copper. Itfs oddas an orthopedic shoeor a coffin for bananas.A protective tarnish darkensthe shining face it broughtinto this world, after the smithtold his hands:Let the Hidden One sleep,and light his wayto the cave of stories.