Dismantling a Rhine Barge
Few campus writing programs in America rival the Writers Workshop at the University of Iowa, where Paul Engle has for many years presided over a rich seedbed of prizewinning poets and novelists. The ATLANTIC has selected from among the current crop of Iowa poets three young men whose work gives special promise of distinction. James Tate has just won the competition for the Yale Series of Younger Poets.
IOWA POETS
BY TYNER WHITE
The sun has not cleared the bluffs, and the watchers
include himself, you, me, and numerous others.
include himself, you, me, and numerous others.
They are removing the fore frigate gatchet.
I see two others arriving who must have passed you
before, making twenty to watch it.
I see two others arriving who must have passed you
before, making twenty to watch it.
They are removing the hatch stud stanchion.
The road was black with many who would accost you
to demand assortment after their fashion.
The road was black with many who would accost you
to demand assortment after their fashion.
They are removing the hold beams and bringing up tabs.
You stood away — the ports in the sky are pulled out.
I check: I am nowhere. My fingers are plaid slabs.
You stood away — the ports in the sky are pulled out.
I check: I am nowhere. My fingers are plaid slabs.
You have vanished into the rosewood, into the locks.
They are removing the motors and have commenced wiring the prow
before fastening the derrick that will tip it against the rocks.
They are removing the motors and have commenced wiring the prow
before fastening the derrick that will tip it against the rocks.