Most Read... John McAuliffeBill Manhire in Conversation with John McAuliffe
(PN Review 259)
Patricia CraigVal Warner: A Reminiscence
(PN Review 259)
Joshua WeinerAn Exchange with Daniel Tiffany/Fall 2020
(PN Review 259)
Eavan BolandA Lyric Voice at Bay
(PN Review 121)
Vahni CapildeoOn Judging Prizes, & Reading More than Six Really Good Books
(PN Review 237)
Christopher MiddletonNotes on a Viking Prow
(PN Review 10)
Next Issue Sinead Morrissey 'The Lightbox' Philip Terry 'What is Poetry' Ned Denny 'Nine Poems after Verlaine' Sasha Dugdale 'On learning that Russian mothers buy their soldier sons lucky belts inscribed with Psalm 90 to wear into battle' Rod Mengham 'Cold War Hot Air'
Poems Articles Interviews Reports Reviews Contributors
Reader Survey
PN Review Substack

This poem is taken from PN Review 166, Volume 32 Number 2, November - December 2005.

Brute Conflict R.F. Langley

It could be this. It could
be brute conflict. It could
be that I want to count
because I do not want
to count. The counter-wish
is wished to normalise
confusion. To desire.
To notice the absence
of the stars. Regretting
it. Glad that they have gone.
To calculate without
desires, so the pebbles
vanish when it comes to
calculation. Desire
for pebbles. The placid
images of shape and
weight. The cheerful pebbles.
...


Searching, please wait... animated waiting image