ice palace
ice chalice
come to these lips sublime
and freeze them rub turpentine
severely chilled into
the chafed contours canvas
comply such color should fade from eye
no lick to lap a sullen sigh
no smudge to smart a warm good bye
this face an ancient mariner’s rye
spat up several times and why
you keep on looking makes me cry
Words by Rick Stachura. “Ice palace.” November 26, 2004.
Photo by Rick Stachura. Looking west from East 25th Street and Lexington Avenue in Kips Bay. June 24, 2019.