Via Negativa

February 15, 2025 by Dave Bonta

Withdrawn

With the two Sir Williams to the Trinity-house; and there in their society had the business debated of Sir Nicholas Crisp’s sasse at Deptford. Then to dinner, and after dinner I was sworn a Younger Brother; Sir W. Rider being Deputy Master for my Lord of Sandwich; and after I was sworn, all the Elder Brothers shake me by the hand: it is their custom, it seems.
Hence to the office, and so to Sir Wm. Batten’s all three, and there we staid till late talking together in complaint of the Treasurer’s instruments. Above all Mr. Waith, at whose child’s christening our wives and we should have been to-day, but none of them went and I am glad of it, for he is a very rogue, So home, and drew up our report for Sir N. Crispe’s sasse, and so to bed. No news yet of our fleet gone to Tangier, which we now begin to think long.

in a society of sand
shake me by the hand

the child I should have been
is mean and thin

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Saturday 15 February 1661/62.

February 15, 2025February 15, 2025 by Luisa A. Igloria

In the Cane

river in November light between bare woods and mountain

From oval-shaped beans, Arabica has 
a sweeter, fruitier taste. Rounder, Robusta 

has that brassier edge, because of its higher 
caffeine content. Besides mouthfeel and smell, 

how does one navigate these flavor profiles?
Chocolate, jasmine, citrus, smoke; roasted barley,

cinnamon, clove, wet soil. Body is the weight or 
density of the coffee on your tongue; acidity, what 

bursts as a brighter note after you swallow. There are 
those who won't take coffee any other way but black. 

No sugar or honey, no cream, no crown of froth— 
as if to do otherwise might mean a disposition 

toward weakness, robust meaning having great 
strength. Upright, vigorous like robur (an English oak), 

as if what's sweet didn't also live in fields of hardy
cane, making generous sugar without the bees.

February 14, 2025February 14, 2025 by Luisa A. Igloria

Pintados

Thorns dipped in ink from soot and 
ashes, ancient rituals for drawing

on the body. Once, only the brave 
were marked with sequences of rills 

and rivers, bands crossing their wrists 
and lower arms. Breastplates mimic 

the scales of centipedes or lizards—
All we want is to be aligned with

light and its protective webs, before
we return to the earth that moulded us.

February 14, 2025 by Dave Bonta

Worker

(Valentine’s day). I did this day purposely shun to be seen at Sir W. Batten’s, because I would not have his daughter to be my Valentine, as she was the last year, there being no great friendship between us now, as formerly. This morning in comes W. Bowyer, who was my wife’s Valentine, she having, at which I made good sport to myself, held her hands all the morning, that she might not see the paynters that were at work in gilding my chimney-piece and pictures in my diningroom.
By and by she and I by coach with him to Westminster, by the way leaving at Tom’s and my wife’s father’s lodgings each of them some poor Jack, and some she carried to my father Bowyer’s, where she staid while I walked in the Hall, and there among others met with Serj’. Pierce, and I took him aside to drink a cup of ale, and he told me the basest thing of Mr. Montagu’s and his man Eschar’s going away in debt, that I am troubled and ashamed, but glad to be informed of. He thinks he has left 1000l. for my Lord to pay, and that he has not laid out 3,000l. out of the 5,000l. for my Lord’s use, and is not able to make an account of any of the money.
My wife and I to dinner to the Wardrobe, and then to talk with my Lady, and so by coach, it raining hard, home, and so to do business and to bed.

Valentine’s Day
her formerly held hands

each of them
so poor and thin

but able to count money
by a hard bed

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Friday 14 February 1661/62.

February 14, 2025 by Dave Bonta

Night on the town

After musique comes my cozen Tom Pepys the executor, and he did stay with me above two hours discoursing about the difference between my uncle Thomas and me, and what way there may be to make it up, and I have hopes we may do good of it for all this. Then to dinner, and then came Mr. Kennard, and he and I and Sir W. Pen went up and down his house to view what may be the contrivance and alterations there to the best advantage.
So home, where Mr. Blackburne (whom I have not seen a long time) was come to speak with me, and among other discourse he do tell me plain of the corruption of all our Treasurer’s officers, and that they hardly pay any money under ten per cent.; and that the other day, for a mere assignation of 200l. to some counties, they took 15l. which is very strange. So to the office till night, and then home and to write by the post about many businesses, and so to bed. Last night died the Queen of Bohemia.

music comes
and I sing out

my way may be
to make it up

and I have all this
contrivance to burn

I have seen plain as night
the queen of bohemia

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Thursday 13 February 1661/62.

February 13, 2025February 13, 2025 by Luisa A. Igloria

Infinity is the management

of a life of grace. But she wobbles 
on one leg, trying to assume an attitude 
of balance. In the distance, two ships 
navigate a rough sea. Neither one 
has sent help signals yet. In another 
life which is merely another version 
of this one, she regards the growing
brightness beyond the hills. Glaciers
have not all melted yet, though that
change, too, is coming. White buds
return, slowly, to the wounded trees.
Her garments are without damage.
Surely there is a bridge that leads
across the treacherous water. 
Surely a change exists, shaded 
a different color of blue.

February 12, 2025February 12, 2025 by Luisa A. Igloria

Wine-Dark, Gold-Dark

No, the dark hasn't lifted yet. 
But here in this coastal part 
of the south, the daytime hours 
are still streaked with rain, 
meaning snow never crystallized 
enough to make the thickest, 
whitest blanket that might obliterate 
reminders of the crudeness of the world. 
No matter, it's good that we can see
the ribs of trees, damp bucket seats
in the park like empty egg trays, 
the future leaking out at the edges.
Does moving the hour hand forward
hasten arrival at the end of time?
When I tipped the ink bottle over,
a lake of dark red spread on Canson 
paper. That was the first time
I noticed the gold shimmer in 
its depths: a small lesson
for which I was grateful.

February 12, 2025 by Dave Bonta

Getting out

This morning, till four in the afternoon, I spent abroad, doing of many and considerable businesses at Mr. Phillips the lawyer, with Prior, Westminster, my Lord Crew’s, Wardrobe, &c., and so home about the time of day to dinner with my mind very highly contented with my day’s work, wishing I could do so every day. Then to my chamber drawing up writings, in expectation of my uncle Thomas coming. So to my musique and then to bed.
This night I had half a 100 poor Jack sent me by Mr. Adis.

is the afternoon road
my reward

out of work wishing
I could be a wing

in expectation of
a coming night

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Wednesday 12 February 1661/62.

February 11, 2025February 11, 2025 by Luisa A. Igloria

On Stoicism

  
We are tired, I am tired. Every day
is exhausting, isn't it? I'm thankful
for anyone and everyone who's fighting 
mightily for our shared rights— to food 
and clean water and air, the fair 
reward of our labor, homes 
whose floors we'll sweep, where we 
can go to bed and rest with no fear 
at night. What need have we of a future 
that bristles with new hardships but old 
hate? I want the trees to just be trees 
with no history of bodies dangling 
from them like bloated fruit. Marcus 
Aurelius said Never let the future 
disturb you. You will meet it, if you 
have to with the same weapons of reason 
which today arm you against the present. 
I've heard my neighbor say she has a gun; 
I wonder if she considers that an extension 
of reason. The Stoics practiced the virtues 
of wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation— 
they claimed these gave them the discipline 
to endure both pleasure and pain, but 
especially pain. I admit I've always 
had trouble reconciling that kind 
of indifference: as if it were a simple 
matter to vacate the personal, to keep 
my back straight and look evil in the eye 
without revealing how I tremble inside. 
I read and listen so I might be wise;
and strive to be fair. But I know my heart
can also expand, transmit its joys 
like a sun or a moon. Or howl, 
as animals do of their suffering.

February 11, 2025February 11, 2025 by Dave Bonta

Wu-wei

Musique, then my brother Tom came, and spoke to him about selling of Sturtlow, he consents to, and I think will be the best for him, considering that he needs money, and has no mind to marry.
Dined at home, and at the office in the afternoon. So home to musique, my mind being full of our alteracons in the garden, and my getting of things in the office settled to the advantage of my clerks, which I found Mr. Turner much troubled at, and myself am not quiet in mind. But I hope by degrees to bring it to it. At night begun to compose songs, and begin with “Gaze not on Swans.” So to bed.

a ring needs
no mind to marry
a home
no mind to age

I found no mind
to compose so I gaze
on swans

Erasure poem derived from The Diary of Samuel Pepys, Tuesday 11 February 1661/62.