Floodplane 1 | Page 48

Ode to Alexander Markov

by Amy Antongiovanni

You lured me underground

with your own new beauty.

Arched to crescendo, fire-breasted night

Your violin poured a devilish ichor.

Oh to taste it pure—

comet’s after-spray

a crowd of stars.

Your Brahms became a city of dancers

a warrior’s feast, a latitude of angels.