Iowa Writes

PAUL DIEHL
Quantième Perpètuel


As transparent as time, air swirls — round where our blue spruce once grew,
a crowd of leaves and snow showing the — color of wind. The unseen and seen today, and memory. I glance at my wrist and feel — it all passing away. My watch still traces the toothless moon, the slanting sky, an — unsteady wheel, & the quickest hand leaping. I'm down to two verbs. The verb that says — when. And the sapphire pulse within us all.

About Iowa Writes

Since 2006, Iowa Writes has featured the work of Iowa-identified writers (whether they have Iowa roots or live here now) and work published by Iowa journals and publishers on The Daily Palette. Iowa Writes features poetry, fiction, or nonfiction twice a week on the Palette.

In November of 2008, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Iowa City, Iowa, the world's third City of Literature, making the community part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

Iowa City has joined Edinburgh, Scotland and Melbourne, Australia as UNESCO Cities of Literature.

Find out more about submitting by contacting iowa-writes@uiowa.edu


PAUL DIEHL

This poem was chosen for Poetry in Public 2008, sponsored by the Iowa City Public Art Program. Poetry in Public celebrates Iowa City's rich literary tradition and local writing talent by displaying poems by writers of all ages in city buses, a downtown kiosk, community centers, and the public library.

Iowa City Public Art Program site

This page was first displayed
on July 29, 2008

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