THE EYE BEHIND THE I

From here, I can go anywhere
Anchored to this desk, I see
three narcissus in a slender pewter vase

On the floor by my feet is my black bag
with its white clown faces,
empty now of my teaching tricks, it sags

French doors open out to campus
past trees, buildings, the town
out, out across the land

then up, up past clouds, up
out to the universe
planets, stars, galaxies, black holes

then I return, see again the desk
a highly glazed fat cup holds
pens that free my imagination

to soar to soar

-Adam David Miller

Berkeley’s poetry Walk was laid in October 2003 along Edison Street between Shattuck and Milvia Streets. The route includes 128 metal plates with excerpts from songs, each of which is related in one way or another to the city of Berkeley.

In the current plaque there is a poem by the American poet Adam David Miller (1922-2020). Miller taught at the University of Berkeley, and is one of the initiators of Berkeley Poetry Walk