Another Republic

So I'm teaching this book to my poetry writing class this semester:

So far it's going well. The Follain poem I posted a few days ago is in this book. We're discussing these two poets today:

THE TENANTS OF THE LITTLE BOX by Vasko Popa

Throw into the little box

A stone

You'll take out a bird

Throw in your shadow

You'll take out the shirt of happiness

Throw in your father's root

You'll take out t he axle of the universe

The little box works for you

Throw into the little box

A mouse

You'll take out a shaking hill

Throw in your mother pearl

You'll take out the chalice of eternal life

Throw in your head

You'll take out two

The little box works for you

And here's my boy, Frankie Ponge, looking all dapper:

THE PLEASURES OF THE DOOR

Kings do not touch doors.

They know nothing of this pleasure: pushing before one gently or brusquely one of those large familiar panels, then turning back to replace it--holding a door in one's arms.

. . . The pleasure of grabbing the midriff of one of these tall obstacles to a room by its porcelain node; that short clinch during which movement stops, the eye widens, and the whole body adjusts to its new surrounding.

With a friendly hand one still holds on to it, before closing it decisively and shutting oneself in--which the click of the tight but well-oiled spring pleasantly confirms.