Three Riddles

December 27, 1982

1. Spirit of form turning formless, spirit of shape losing shape ghost of heat rising from its old life remembering warmth, it makes you cry. (Smoke) 2. Look how tightly it holds itself: wax over waxy leaf and no secret heart. (Onion) 3. Dry, tiny rattles, hoarse husks whisper, whisper instead of pealing the wild sweet silence of yesterday's white bells. (Lily-of-the-valley)