The Dream of Reason. Jenny George

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      Thank you. We hope you enjoy these poems.

       This e-book edition was created through a special grant provided by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. Copper Canyon Press would like to thank Constellation Digital Services for their partnership in making this e-book possible.

       For Kate Carr

      In 1799 the Spanish painter Francisco Goya created an etching called El sueño de la razón produce monstruos. The title has two English translations. The common one is The sleep of reason produces monsters. But it can also be translated The dream of reason produces monsters.

      Contents

        Title Page

        Note to the Reader

        Dedication

      1  Origins of Violence

      1  I Threshold Gods Rehearsal Everything Is Restored Death of a Child The Gesture of Turning a Mask Around Troubles Spring Encyclopedia of the Dead

      2  II The Sleeping Pig The Traveling Line The Belt Notes on Pigs Obstacles to Handling Ears The Farrowing Crate Portrait of a Pig as a Bird One-Way Gate The Veld Influence Vision First Day of Lent The River Vaudeville Westward Expansion

      3  III New World The Cave Sword-Swallower The Drowning Winter Variations Reprieve The Dream of Reason Self-Portrait The Miniature Bed Harvest Sonnet for Lost Teeth Talisman On Waking Eros A Childhood Revelation Spring Mnemonic Intelligence Easter Notes

        About the Author

        Acknowledgments

        Copyright

        Special thanks

       Origins of Violence

      There is a hole.

      In the hole is everything

      people will do

      to each other.

      The hole goes down and down.

      It has many rooms

      like graves and like graves

      they are all connected.

      Roots hang from the dirt

      in craggy