Blivet

by Kate Colby

A poem makes much
of what’s already in it

(“essentially” means
“deeply” or “all but”).

As swamp gas accounts
for visual phenomena

appurtenant to
the impossible:

words are fake
in fact of night,

their light the stars
won’t reach to meet.

“Leave off ” can mean
“stop” or “omit;”

a unicorn’s an animal,
a tricorn a hat;

the beginning of a corner is
as long as you face it.