lostus eaters 4

tailor

lay out the soft wool worsted on the table
trace pattern in the thinnest of wax lines
now shear the cloth along the cartoon tracings
and with thin pins affix the gentle planes

the suit of dreams takes place just as the promise
the fit exact, each line the way it ought
so neat the human form will look within it
that even harshest critics say it’s hot

and so the silent snip and stitch and fitting
will flow like springtime slipping into trees
and everything will fit into a boardroom
and everyone will love it as you please

yet even as one slips into this suit
face hands and soul can everything refute

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lotus eaters 3

At last the grandchild visits
a lovely silent child
who smiles shyly
sees all
investigates with
little gurgles of approval

the news is on TV
and grampa turns
and watches
what caught the eye
what caught the ear
across the globe

the newspaper is on his lap
he’s up to date
and well informed
he says

The silent child
stares up at him
and knows
that’s how I’ll be

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lotus eaters 2

I, poet

If I stand by my fireplace
before a gathering of friends
and start to speak
of life, the meaning of
of religion, the possibility of
of just about anything
they will listen for a bit
then speak themselves
when I become too much to bear

But

If I stand by my fireplace
before a gathering of friends
and start to read
a poem about
life, the meaning of
religion, the possibility of
or just about anything
they will listen to the end
and even later
in days or weeks
or months or years
tell me something
in return.

Such is not thought of
in the land of lotus eaters.

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