Vol. 43 No. 3 1976 - page 403

POEMS
Three Poems by Michael McClure
FREEWHEELIN'S TATTOO
FRANK, HOW PLEASED
lAM
to see that Death' sHead
tattoo of red and blue
blocked in
with solid black;
how good
to view the sign
of madcap finality
filled up
with darkness
to make a wing shape
forever flying
on your arm.
It
IS
your new charm
or token
and it shows
that spirit cannot
be broken
but ever grows
toward flight.