Publications | 2004

Carthage
By Baron Wormser

The Poet Laureate for the State of Maine has published, Carthage, a collection of fourteen poems about a fictional character who is president of the United States.

“From the onset we recognize “Carthage,” Baron Wormser’s replica of a president befuddled by events he’s helped create, yet cognizant enough to know that he can exercise enormous power. He invades a country, and Wormser has him think, “It doesn’t feel like much though, / You’re excited for a few days/ And then you’re back to thinking about waffles.” While recognizable, Carthage is sadder, more complicated, and even more pedestrian than his model. This is Wormser’s achievement. Through his droll and deft mediation and orchestration of effects, he has imagined for us a man who’s a frightening mix of power and banality.” —Stephen Dunn

Book excerpt—
"Carthage and Airplanes"

Carthage likes to ride in airplanes.
Up in the sky he can forget
About the schedules of earth.
It is almost like thinking,
Gazing out the window at the clouds.

He likes to ponder.
"We’re pretty high up," he says
To his aides.
"I wonder if we could go much higher."
Everyone looks thoughtful.

Back on earth ten-year-olds heft Uzis,
People drop dead on sidewalks,
Friendship sours like old milk.
How much better it is in the sky!

Too bad you have to be going somewhere.
Too bad the endless limo will appear
And some suit or turban or daishiki
Will greet you and start
Telling you about what’s going
To happen soon or happened yesterday.

"Why don’t you fly around more?"
Carthage would like to say to them.
If you live in the sky, nothing happens.
You don’t even see the rain.
It is almost like thinking.

Copyright 2005

Published 2005, Carthage, chapbook consisting of 14 poems.