Walking Backwards

Collected poems from America’s searching and thoughtful philosopher-poet . . . There ’ s something Comforting about rituals renewed, even adolescents ’ pipe dreams: They ’ ll find out soon enough, and meanwhile find their places In the eternal scenery, less auguries or cautionary tales Than parts of an unchanging whole, as ripe for contemplation As a planisphere or the clouds: the vexed destinies, the shared life, The sempiternal spectacle of someone preaching to the choir While walking backward