Poems by J.R. Solonche

ELEGY FOR RICHARD SERRA

(November 2, 1938 – March 26, 2024)

Which of the Serras will be his? 
Which Serra will be Richard Serra’s?
Of his steel walls, which will be his own
steel wall, his own steel stone,
his own steel memorial?
No, you cannot say that all
of them will be. Only one can suit
him, one only rusted armor fit
to keep him safe and sound
against the cold breath
of the dragon Time, going around
and around and around with Death.
So which of the Serras is his?
Which Serra is Richard Serra’s?

APOLOGETICS

Not a day goes by without
an apology from me. I will
apologize for something I did
or did not do or for something
I said or did not say. If I am out
in public, I will apologize to
strangers for not looking where
I’m going. At home, I apologize
to friends who call me for not 
calling them, or to the spider 
for carelessly sweeping away 
its web, or to all the poems I send 
out into the world unprepared –
Oh my children! – my apologies.