R L SWIHART
Beyond the Reach of Cause and Effect

I.

At the Literatu Svetaine
Time is smoking a joint-

Instead of assorted literati
and a few period pieces
the narcotic smoke charcoals into space

two Danish exiles waiting for
their Lithuanian dates
(stockpiled complaints about their homeland
are traded as they wait)

one young Lithuanian hostess
one young Lithuanian waitress
one young Lithuanian waiter

a Swedish chef
(from whom will emerge an unstable
pyramid of gravied meatballs and their delectable
consorts)

a tall perspiring glass of Kalnapilis

a table all to myself

a window-plush curtains drawn back-
all to myself

me, not me, maybe Milosz

II.

We are floating now-
above Katedros Aikste

We are floating now-
an atomized and somewhat demoted
Laplace's observer

We are floating now-
buoyed by oblivion more than
ecstasy

In the crepuscular city
the Red Army has become white
They have broken formation
Their wagging scarves banner their cause
In their fisted hands are keys not flags
They are driven by snow

WENDY L. HAMMOND
No Regrets

regret has a way of standing up
one day, tipping its hat
as it walks away
turns its back
like an old man going off to die
and you realize
your days are worth more
than this

that if you wallow around in it
for too long
it takes on form, and you're torn
between having to touch it
let it sting
or making yourself
pay for it
- this thing, regret

its forgiveness or the lack of it
the deficit,
that holds you back
from a calm patience
a merciful act
that comes from letting go

like the old man knows his time
when its time to rest
it is in the release
you'll find
- such peacefulness