Seth Copeland


An Elegy for Elegy

&&here] cœmst th bookays
   ∫unereal &gaud_dam
∫rost stijl warm : a pœm on ((flight
d[r]ying on a s_k_u_f_f_y patchuv
desk :--: next üp_delmoar
aloan)(Bone - _ - yur macabre

Leïf_frends_is macabre ;; dressing up _husk
undr έikonostásis ;; in that cæse
Nortns_n/Heeths :_: Tovch a ded pœt &nevir
dabbl negative or dugööd agayne
      Wavve backat Henri hes hopt
on th/bridge—              oh_

Gööd Henry’s a blænk // (p)έace to thbeerded
corps[e] propt üpin {mcalester} —:beloved son returnt(!)
pilgrims fëëd him coins :: wen my turn I dære_:were u
sorry moar 4:S:y:l:v:i:a: or her kids man:
/ bless/ him he trys _ slurs mud_
         &just stærs dark loŋg in2 th ground



An Elegy for the Bern

:                  (I)tt DOESnt seem reel_dussit
:      afunny ol)wizard_shaven/suited
:             poppin)(nonthere balloonts w/ gun fingers
:   /Phhwwhh/Phhwwhh/_Dehnmak      &&
:                        millennia™ duggit
:      deep4themselfs      freshdeep grave          

:      anW_h_y_n_ot_? Gaia ages us back 2
:            babies/beard_oil     grandfather frailty
:                  oGod_thankgsiving_older relatives
:      he’s a socialist      well no i like national parks
:                  nextoo thgravy )) mailstack urges to
:            pray the Яeds away. Oof. Is seryiz biznis tovarishi.

:      OFeelthe ____, feel it//birds drip intohis hants
:            butW)A)I)T(caucus cuckus Kochus
:                    millennia™_it rattles   
:                  Firsteim (we reely sawhim/iThink
:            @that shit convention_cracking in M(a(r(s_red light
:                       his brother cast1_4him …  &he wept


An Elegy for J. A. M. B., the Berry Man

unfruitish by truth_ly
yet does there come a pucker 2 a face whenst
tasting you||~~: Alonely Bonely//Pussy(cat Galore
ye phantom text     ragged shroud @the feast
Banquo in a mud bank))silting out your lungs|
shiney_eyed wet     you reach vapor

towardst clinkclinkety highballs|
U say: o let me opera w/ cork//wag.
_:at least explain ://: who(i)sPAIN:_ u needed but yr own
sssSsSoO SsSoOORrRrYYy  this isnt shaping up 2same
w/ th 1ne u did 4(4|4|4444444) wheelbarrwrote paterson
so here it is:
                           there r bad dreams

& & then there r (g)(o)_o_d| dreams abed
now from yr hand 2 mine
many))So breezebattered birds twitchn cool
yet hold them I_WILL: as if fillt
with the golden rebis     cureful wisdom
very elixir of
                 Li(f)(e)ght.



Seth Copeland's work has appeared in Yes Poetry, Mannequin Haus, Crab Fat, Kestrel, and The Birds We Piled Loosely. He edits petrichor, and teaches in the Oklahoma City metro.