Light Poem  
for mezzo-soprano and harp  

Light Poem was commissioned by and written for Katherine Eberle, and premiered at the Interlochen Arts Camp, Michigan, July 22, 1997.

Light Poem

I'm in a phone booth in Saratoga Springs.
The water tastes awful, but very helpful.
You aren't answering, whatever I'm asking.
I'm asking right now why you aren't answering.
It's pleasure, pain, or just love of quiet.
You're not answering: I've got coins for nothing.

I'm going to stamp out my feelings for you,
post them in a letter like a long shaft
Brought to your box by fanjet airlines.
On a plain chair, arms flapping, I'm winging
to that heaven of babies, that stellar
interstellar galaxy of persuasions, those

fine passions eclipsed by sunshine
but now, in the dark, all that we see
and all that we ever wished for, swore for,
lied and cheated and stole for.
I'm sending you tomorrow the letter of today,
a little dried-up light from far away.