Dedicated to Jago, who loves Mark Strand

KEEPING THINGS WHOLE

BY MARK STRAND

In a field

I am the absence

of field.

This is

always the case.

I am what is missing.

When I walk

I part the air

and always

the air moves in

to fill the spaces

where my body's been.

We all have reasons

for moving.

I move

to keep things whole.