Misery and Splendor by Robert Hass

<p>Production and Sound Design by Kevin Seaman</p><p> </p><p>Misery and Splendor</p><p>BY ROBERT HASS</p><p>Summoned by conscious recollection, she</p><p>would be smiling, they might be in a kitchen talking,</p><p>before or after dinner. But they are in this other room,</p><p>the window has many small panes, and they are on a couch</p><p>embracing. He holds her as tightly  </p><p>as he can, she buries herself in his body.</p><p>Morning, maybe it is evening, light</p><p>is flowing through the room. Outside,</p><p>the day is slowly succeeded by night,</p><p>succeeded by day. The process wobbles wildly</p><p>and accelerates: weeks, months, years. The light in the room</p><p>does not change, so it is plain what is happening.</p><p>They are trying to become one creature,</p><p>and something will not have it. They are tender</p><p>with each other, afraid</p><p>their brief, sharp cries will reconcile them to the moment</p><p>when they fall away again. So they rub against each other,</p><p>their mouths dry, then wet, then dry.</p><p>They feel themselves at the center of a powerful</p><p>and baffled will. They feel</p><p>they are an almost animal,</p><p>washed up on the shore of a world—</p><p>or huddled against the gate of a garden—</p><p>to which they can’t admit they can never be admitted.</p>