David Lehman

VARIATIONS ON A THEME

1. Blank Verse

I live in dread of what I do not know.

2. WCW

I live
in dread

of what?

I do not know

3. Backwards

Know not do I
what of
dread in
live I

4. Flip

Do I not know
what in dread of
I live?
 

5. Double Down

I live in what
of dread I do not know,
live in dread of
I know not what I do.

6. Henry James

In dread of what I know
I do not live.

7.  Code (Anagrammatic)

Dare evil of wind to hat.
OK.
I do now.

8. Emersonian

Know not of dread.
I live in what I do.

DAVID LEHMAN is a poet, author, and editor, whose most recent books are One Hundred Autobiographies: A Memoir and Playlist: A Poem. He is the editor of The Oxford Book of American Poetry. He taught in Bennington’s low-residency MFA program from its inception in 1994 until 2006.