to campus, to fi nish
some last chores -- down through the gaps
between the big buildings a
wind's coming in, clear, heavy,
coursing the Channel from the
open seas to the northwest.
a week since, the Aleutians
from waters far back over
on the curving of the world;
it looks to be intently
cleansing this place of used air
in corners, of particles
students -- of the few still here --
crossing between library
and dorm are minor fi gures
blown bare and vivid in the
strong sparkle of the light, the
bleakness is energetic
the main switch has been thrown, the
windows locked tight -- the air's dead
that had been well divided
and held in bright dry spaces