I the People poem – Alice Notley

I the people

to the things that are were &

come to be.

We were once what we know

when we

make love When we go away

from each other because

we have been created

at 10th & A, in winter &

of trees & of the history of houses

we hope we are

notes of the musical scale of

heaven—I the

people so repetitious, & my

vision of

to hold the neighbors loose-

ly here in

light of gel, my gel, my vision

come out of

my eyes to hold you sur-

round you in

gold & you don’t know it

ever. Everyone

we the people having our

vision of

gold & silver & silken liquid

light flowed

from our eyes & caressing

all around all the

walls. I am a late Pre-

in this dawn of

We the people

to the things that are & were

& come to be

Once what we knew was only

and numbers became

It is numbers & gold & at 10th

& A you don’t

have to know it ever. Opening

words that show

Opening words that show that we

were once

the first to recognize

the immortality of numbered

bodies. And we are the masters

of hearing & saying

at the double edge of body &

breath

We the lovers & the eyes

All over, inside her

when the wedding

is over, & the Park “lies cold &

lifeless”

I the people, whatever is said

by the first

one along, Angel-Agate. I wear

your colors

I hear what we say & what

we say . . . (and I

the people am still parted in

two & would cry)