“This is kind of a parody on Robert Graves. It’s not very responsible…” says Snyder, introducing the poem. Graves’ book The White Goddess was a major intellectual influence on Snyder during his years at Reed, and after. Variant in line 12: “Almost alive” in the recorded version became “half-alive” in the published text.

POEMS FROM THE BACK COUNTRY (1968)
“For a Stone Girl at Sanchi”
“A Dry Day Just Before the Rainy Season…”
“To Hell with Your Fertility Cult”
Introduction to “A Walk”
“A Walk”