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“THERE’S NO THROUGH TRAIL” —HAN-SHAN, TRANSLATED BY GARY SNYDER
/ & Every Iteration Reveals Something

& Every Iteration Reveals Something

by Gretchen Rockwell

a quarto for G.——

in spare time we evaluate                                                                                how things    can reflect
the reincarnations     of one                                                                another    so quickly   changing
character the visions   &                                                                 lenses     we look through    all the
re-visions most frustrating                                                                            time     finding each other 
all fascinating        changes                                                                       again       rewriting ourselves
over time      unraveling                                                                         & still looking     deep      there
to find the heart      yes                                                                                       you are one of the lights
unfurling      to shine through                                                                          all of this      a metaphor

we consider revision     re                                                                            imagining      this      recent
interpretation    &  strike                                                        gold    say there is always     something
at the core     of being    always                                                                        waiting   to be       found
faithful    to the original   what is                                                                           patient        & for   us
true    & what is  wishful       thinking                                                         we move through          this 
& that      sifting      brings us joy                                                                       all in a sea     of wonders
shifting     what is possible                                                                             we seek      only      to find
what we make      for us                                                                    there is always      something new

Gretchen Rockwell

About Gretchen Rockwell

Gretchen Rockwell is a queer poet who can frequently be found writing about gender, science, space, and unusual connections. Xe is the author of the chapbooks body in motion (perhappened press) and Lexicon of Future Selves (Vegetarian Alcoholic Press) and two microchapbooks; xer work has appeared in AGNI, Cotton Xenomorph, Whale Road Review, Palette Poetry, and elsewhere. Find xer at www.gretchenrockwell.com or on Twitter at @daft_rockwell.

Cold Mountain Review is published once a year in the Department of English at Appalachian State University. Support from Appalachian’s Office of Academic Affairs and College of Arts and Sciences enables CMR’s learning and publications program. The views and opinions expressed in CMR do not necessarily reflect those of university trustees, administration, faculty, students, or staff.