Dream Song 86

His Toy, His Dream, His Rest (1969)

Op. posth. no. 9

The conclusion is growing… I feel sure, my lord,this august court will entertain the pleaNot Guilty by reason of death.I can say no more except that for the recordI add that all the crimes since all the times hedied will be due to the breath

of unknown others, sweating in theri guiltwhile my client Henry’s brow of stainless steelrests free, as well it may,of all such turbulence, whereof not builtHenry lies clear as any onion-peelin any sandwich, say.

He spiced us: there, my lord, the wicked faultlodges: we judged him when we did not knowand we did judge him wrong,lying incapable of crime save saltpreservative in cases here belowadduced. Not to prolong

His Toy, His Dream, His Rest (1969)