Anticipated Stranger Poem by John Ashbery

Anticipated Stranger



The bruise will stop by later.
For now, the pain pauses in its round,
notes the time of day, the patient's temperature,
leaves a memo for the surrogate: What the hell
did you think you were doing? I mean . . .
Oh well, less said the better, they all say.
I'll post this at the desk.

God will find the pattern and break it.

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John Ashbery

John Ashbery

Rochester, New York
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