Robert Creeley’s “The Tunnel” is short and difficult, taking aim at three weighty subjects: love, time, and death. I think I’ve read it twenty times now, and I still don’t grasp the whole meaning. I hold on to one stanza and another slips away. I love its concise complexity, and cleverness. Just look at the first line: “Tonight, nothing is long enough–” — the line ends with a long (em-) dash! The line itself is drawn out, lengthened by its punctuation and the pause that follows the end of every line in poetry. What a mind at work.
Read it here, and please tell me what you make of it!
Rosemary and Reading Glasses 
This is a great exercise, especially for me as a new poetry reader. I read the poem and I can see why you are still thinking about it and what it means. I am too 🙂
I’m so glad! Are there any poets or poems you particularly like? I still owe you recommendations!
Sorry I still haven’t responded to your great question – I have been thinking this whole week! I am embarrassed because it’s been a looong time since I have read any poets…I will be getting back to you. I also found a name that I will run by you.